1. Sponsored by the MidAmerica Region: Prairie Star, Central Midwest & Heartland Districts Nancy Combs-Morgan & Dori Thexton Sustainable Youth Ministry

2. What would an enduring Youth Ministry look like in a congregation?

3. You know you’re “stuck” if you’re asking these questions. Can you just give us some good ideas? Can you keep our youth ministry from failing? Do you understand how different we are? Will you help my congregation understand it’s not just about the numbers? Can you keep the politics away from youth ministry?

5. One full-time staff for every 50 youth

7. Content thinking vs. systems thinking

8. Structures of Sustainability Control documents – annual events calendar, job descriptions, master recruiting list, curriculum template Youth ministry mission/vision statement 3 year plan Statement of values

9. Healthy youth staff and longevity Emotional health – appropriate boundaries, intentional spiritual practices, accountable relationships Balcony time; three kinds of meetings; the value of “third pig” youth workers

10. Whose job is it anyway? Youth ministry is the congregation’s ministry, not just that of specialists who can relate to teenagers. The mandate to BE THERE for young people belongs to the whole faith community. Kenda Creasy Dean

12. The first step of calling volunteers is the hardest.

14. Identify your needs – RE teachers, advisors, event leaders/organizers, planning committee members, small group leaders

15. Be strategic in recruiting – don’t ask an “A” player to do a “C” level job

16. Develop master recruiting list for future use

17. Start smiling and dialing!When you follow the steps, it works!

18. I got involved in youth ministry because I don’t want to deal with congregational politics!

20. Responsibility shared by a team

21. Regular meetings – 3 kinds of meetings

22. Working a plan

23. Episodic focus, disconnected meetings

24. Responsibility carried by the youth staffperson

25. Concerns raised randomly and reactively

26. Expectation of quick fix; reacting to anxiousnessWhen all the brilliant plans don’t work Traditional Approach

27. Sustainable Youth Ministry Builder’s List Stage 1: Creating blueprint & preparing for the process Stage 2: Laying the foundation Stage 3: Beginning to build Stage 4: Framing the second floor

28. The bolder our plans, the more competent people we attract. Mike Woodruff