Jeremy L. Berg

One of my good friends in youth ministry, Paul Baudhuin at St. Croix Valley United Methodist Church, has an outstanding vision and purpose set out for his youth group.  I can’t help but share it.

While many students often only see what’s on the surface level of the “youth group experience” — the fun and games, worship and fellowship, trips and events — most of us leaders have much deeper hopes and grander visions for what we’re really trying to accomplish.

What’s your youth ministry all about?  What’s the DNA at it’s core? I think Paul is right on the money.  Keep casting the vision — and your nets — broadly and may God give you a great Kingdom catch!  Here it is:

Who We are

In the end, what it comes down to is this — the way of Jesus is simply the best way to live. You can know all the right answers, you can have the right approach to attract crowds and so on, but the question is “does your life reflect Jesus’ life? Are you a reflection of him? Are you learning from him, doing life his way, becoming more like him?” With that in mind, at St. Croix Valley United Methodist we seek to…

…KNOW CHRIST and to MAKE CHRIST KNOWN.

(not just know about Christ and make him known about!)

This is why we exist. This is the heartbeat that pumps the lifeblood into everything we do – from Mission Trips, to game nights, from Extreme Bowling to Confirmation.

The Youth Ministry of St. Croix Valley UMC lives out this purpose through. . .

The Pursuit of God: Stepping onto the Shore

Worship & Prayer

Acts 17:27, Matthew 6: 25-34, Psalm 150

Unsure of what the life is like, we all find ourselves in seasons of uncertainty about Jesus and his way. And so we stand on the shores of the waters of faith, wondering what it will take to draw us deeper. While the view is glorious, we know we can’t stay here forever. We know there is more. On the shore we safely PURSUE GOD so that we can “seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him” (Acts 17:27, NIV). Here we simply stand in awe, gazing at his glory and bowing down to worship him.

The Presence of God: Stepping onto the Dock

Study & Prayer

Psalm 34:8, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

The flow of the river is enticing, and we feel compelled to take a closer look. With the safety of the shore still connected to us, we step out onto the dock and maybe even dangle our feet in the current. We can touch the water now. We know what the strength of the current is as well as the temperature and freshness of the water. Here we can “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8, NIV). But you can’t live on a dock. And there is a great river waiting to be explored. On the Dock we move from merely standing in worshipful awe of God to interacting with him. It here that we begin to experience the PRESENCE OF GOD- we get to know him, more fully experience him. Here we dig into his word, talk with him, and hear his voice.

The People of God: Stepping on to the Boat

Community & Care

Acts 2:44, Ephesians 4:1-16, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Not ready to dive in yet, we are intrigued enough to leave the safety of the dock. We climb into the boat, leave what we know and begin navigating the waters. This is the wild place to be. The shoreline looks different from here. The sun hits the water differently- it’s more inviting. The breeze is more full and satisfying. And there are fellow explorers here. Here we engage with the PEOPLE OF GOD. In this intimate community we are “all together and share everything in common” (Acts 2:44, NIV). But we can’t stay on the boat forever either. We’ll get sun burned. We’ll dry up. It may be fun, it may be pleasant, but eventually we have to go beyond the confines of the boat. On the boat we join in the journey. we move from mere interaction with the waters of faith to joining others in doing so. We investigate the waters beyond the safety of the dock together as a community. Here we foster the courage to share our lives with one another and to no longer do this faith in isolation.

The Purpose of God: Stepping onto the Water

Outreach (Mission, Service & Evangelism)

Matthew 14:28-29, Matthew 25: 31-40, Colossians 3:12-14, John 8:1-11, Philippians 2:1-11

The water looks good. The current is strong and risky, but with God’s help, it is safe. We find ourselves doing something we thought we never could- saying, “Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water”. To which he says “Come” (Matthew 14:28-29, NIV). We jump in. We are walking on water. We discover that we can indeed do the things Jesus calls us to do. And so we let the current take us away. But the time will come when we must get out of the water, otherwise we get water logged. And besides, we have some people we need to tell about this river. They need to check this out. So we walk back to the shore. On the water we call people to take risks, to try something they are afraid they can’t do. We step into the PURPOSE OF GOD. We are not here to make people comfortable; we are here to call out of them the amazing gifts, talents, passions, and personality that God worked into them even as he knit them together in their mothers’ wombs.

This is who we are, who we desire to be, and what we’re about.