Philosophy of Youth Ministry

Family Based Youth Ministry

Jesus ends his “Sermon on the Mount” with a marvelous parable about two houses. From what Jesus tells us, we can assume that the houses were structurally very similar. Nothing about the buildings themselves determined their destiny. But one of them crashed under the weight of the wind and the other withstood the storm. Only one thing made the difference: the foundation.

Family-based youth ministry is not a “new wing” to be added to a church’s youth ministry “house”. It is not and optional enrichment program. Family-based youth ministry is a foundational model.

Much that has been done in traditional youth ministry over the past 50 years has been highly effective. In other words, the houses have been well designed. But because the foundation has often been limited, so has the long-term impact.

What Family-based youth ministry has to offer is less a blueprint than a vision for youth ministry that lasts for the long haul.

Colossians 1:28-29 expresses the goal of family-based youth ministry:
"Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."

The first principle of family-based youth ministry is this primary goal: to equip young people to grow toward mature Christian adulthood (that is, to present them “perfect” or “complete” in Christ).

The prescription of family-based youth ministry creates a foundation for whatever model a church chooses to use to reach its teenagers, recognizing that no one programming strategy will work effectively over the long haul. By focusing on equipping parents and the extended Christian family, churches can maintain an open and flexible stance toward the changes that will be demanded of youth ministry in the 21st Century. (This explanation is taken from Family-Based Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries)

Mission Statement for Redeemer Youth Ministry

In partnership with families, the youth ministry of Redeemer Presbyterian Church exists to engage 100% of the students under its care, to train them to live independently in Christ, and to send them out as exceptional, godly men and women of integrity who will transform their homes, their schools, their churches, their workplaces, and their worlds for Christ.

Philosophy of Youth Ministry

We at Redeemer Presbyterian Church believe that the family and extended family of the church are the structures that most naturally move a person toward faith maturity. These structures work in so far as they involve active mentoring of children by mature Christian adults. Therefore, all activities within Redeemer’s youth program will incorporate adults and children together.