The Ministry Process

Over the past few years, my view of youth ministry has consistently and continually changed. We've made pretty big updates each year that have modified the feel and look of our weekly, Wednesday night programs - from changes to incorporate worship to splitting middle and high school groups, to numerous updates to the small group programoverall, these changes have worked well to move us more fully toward our vision: That students would See, Seek and Serve God. (that has to be a run-on sentence)

This year, we're adding another large tweak, but with one caveot: this change isn't easily seen. Instead of redeveloping programs, switching schedules or adding events, I'm attempting to redirect my ministry focus entirely. And it all comes down to three words: The Ministry Process.

This is something I've blogged about a little over the past few months, but it's still something I want to elaborate on as we move forward. Ministry is a process - a process of introducing broken, sinful humanity  to a glorious, sufficient Savior, and then helping, in community, to guide a transformation by the Spirit of God.

That process needs to be thought through. There's an effective way of doing discipleship, and there are very, very ineffective ways as well. In being entrusted with the spiritual growth and development of hearts, I want to be able to say we're more intentional about discipleship than just merely throwing gospel darts at an ambiguous target.

And so we're implementing an actionable, deliberate ministry process framework for the 2011-2012 school year: Plant, Root, Produce. You'll notice I've dropped those words in different blog posts - and I'll continue to do that. The notion of our process comes directly out of Matthew 13 and the parable of the sower. There is a process in ministry there - the seed is sowed, or planted, to a wide range of hearts. The seeds begin to grow in some hearts, and those are identified by those seeds taking deep root. Finally, true conversion is evidenced by an abundance of produce.

So too is a ministry process for HYPE - there will be events and activities throughout the year with the intent purpose of sowing the gospel to hearts that may or may not be receptive to the gospel. At Plant events, we're not afraid so much of the rejection of the gospel, more so the ignorance to the gospel.

There will also be focused Root events and programs throughout the year. The idea behind these program and events is to provide opportunity for the growing seed of the gospel to deeply root in the hearts of students. Identity is a main component of root level discipleship - identity as a son or daughter of God, and identity within the community of Christ. These events and programs will focus on these things, as well as Scripture and prayer.

And finally, there will be "Produce" level activities - areas of specific challenge to students we feel are evidencing the effects of life-changing grace.

This ministry process is a meta-framework to activities and events in HYPE Youth Ministries. It's a formulative, guiding process for thinking and planning events and the structure of the year. For instance, in thinking through a specific event, I might ask, "Is this Plant, Root or Produce level? Based on the level, who am I targeting? What's the teaching going to look like? The structure of the night? The take-away challenge?" Then, I can evaluate the ministry calendar based on the number of Plant, Root and Produce events and programs, to ensure that the year is effectively challenging different students at different levels.

I really want to stress that this ministry process is nothing more than a framework - it's certainly not a means to conversion or discipleship. That is only accomplished through the movement of the Holy Spirit. A process doesn't reduce my dependence on God's movement! But a process does help me evaluate my faithfulness to organizing and structuring an effective ministry. And only by God's grace...