Leading Ideas Talks Podcast — Episode 127
“The Changing Contours of Youth Ministry” featuring Deech Kirk
What new approaches to youth ministry are emerging in our post-Covid era? Deech Kirk of the Center for Youth Ministry Training describes some of the common challenges confronting youth ministry today and some of the characteristics of the newer, innovative ministry models that are taking shape. Listen now, read transcript, and watch on YouTube.
Connecting Faith and Justice: Youth Lectionary Curriculum
From the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, 2018 (United Methodist Church), this curriculum 'is designed to help students actively engage the intersection of faith and justice and explore why our faith compels us toward justice. Appropriate for junior and senior high.
It is available to download ...for free [here]
Ways To Use The Original Series
This curriculum revolves around exploring Bible stories through the lectionary cycle. The youth curriculum is part of a collection of formation curriculum for the whole church so that children, youth, and adults can engage the same lectionary scriptures in age-appropriate ways. The full scope and sequence of 52 lessons from September 2023 – August 2024 focuses the majority of sessions on the gospel readings with select OT, NT, and Psalms texts interspersed. Lessons include:
You can check out sample lessons on the curriculum website.
Echo the Story invites youth to engage scripture as a series of stories within a story through wondering, reflection, and creative activities. Video recaps connect previous week’s stories to new lessons; sketchbooks facilitate students’ drawings, writing, and conversations. It spans the Old and New Testaments and comes in two versions: a 12-lesson edition (see the scope and sequence here) and a 36-lesson edition (see the scope and sequence here). You can view sample lessons on the publisher’s website.
It's geared toward middle and high school youth (may be most appropriate for middle school).
Fathom: A Deep Dive into the Story of God is a series of Bible studies that explore stories across the Old and New Testaments. It seeks to enable youth to ask hard questions and address complexities involved in interpreting scripture. Each series consists of 4 lessons on a particular topic, biblical book, or set of biblical books, and the full curriculum covers 18 different series.
Lessons include:
Poet, artist, and educator Joe Davis has written Remind Me Again: Poems and Practices for Remembering Who We Are, a collection of 41 poems that will inspire, challenge, and affirm readers from all stages of life. These poems speak to our mind, body, and spirit, to our community, and to our purpose. Each poem includes a “Try This Practice” to help readers connect the themes to their everyday lives. This book has three sections:
Rev. Jia Starr Brown Remind Me Again Facilitator Guide: 41 Sessions Based on the poetry of Joe Davis in Remind Me Again will foster meaningful discussions about Joe’s poetry and facilitate more meaningful connections within community.
This resource can be used as a 10-minute addition to a lesson or as a full 41-week curriculum of hour-long sessions.
Connecting Faith and Justice: Youth Lectionary Curriculum
From the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, 2018 (United Methodist Church), this curriculum 'is designed to help students actively engage the intersection of faith and justice and explore why our faith compels us toward justice. Appropriate for junior and senior high.
It is available to download ...for free [here]
This 12-lesson digital companion curriculum is designed to introduce children to the concepts of holy troublemaking as modeled by the people profiled in Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints, from diverse faiths, who worked for love, compassion, and justice, even when that rocked the religious boat. These lessons ask questions such as: What is holy and good trouble? What is not? What lessons can we learn from those who have gone before on this path? How do we keep our joy and inner peace while working for a world where all can flourish? What might my contribution be?
These lessons are designed for middle-grade children (ages 8–14) with activity options for younger and older participants.
There are three versions (licenses) available based on the size of your organization: Personal/Family, Church 1-100 Members, and Church 100+ Members.
Peer Ministry works with all denominations. The theology is Christian, and flows from the Good Samaritan Story, with emphases on relational caring, welcoming and affirming skills. PML is a good fit for many denominations and adapts well for various settings. Programs include:
Shine: Living in God’s Light engages middle school youth in a three-year exploration of stories across the Old and New Testaments. It prioritizes commitments to love, justice, and peace.
Appropriate for middle school youth (grades 6 – 8); children’s versions of the curriculum are also available
Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living
Animate seeks to facilitate formative learning, conversation, critical and creative thinking, and practices about central dimensions of Christian faith and life. The curriculum addresses three main topics: Faith, Bible, and Practices (see links for each scope and sequence). Each topic contains 7 lessons that feature videos with church leaders and scholars as well as journals to prompt group discussion.
Written for adults, but appropriate for high school youth (grades 9-12).
It is designed for adults of all ages, but may be beneficial for high school youth. You can view sample materials on the publisher’s website.
Current - a flexible curriculum for the whole church - provides opportunities for in-depth exploration of core dimensions of Christian life.
Whether you’re putting together gifts for high school/college graduates or looking for a nice, simple gift to give your volunteers and Sunday School teachers...Illustrated Ministry has a wide range of products to suit your needs:
ZOE ~ Progressive Christians Life on Campus
A global fellowship of college and university students and campus ministry leaders, asking the messy questions of faith, finding grace and humility in the search for understanding, believing there is more value in curious questioning than static absolutes. Read more...
A Youth Workers Guide to Helping Teens With Anxiety
by Rev. Monica Harbarger, MA, NCC, LPC-S
This free, short guide, designed specifically for youth workers, gives practical tips and practices to help you journey alongside your teens through the difficulties of anxiety.
| CLICK HERE to Read More |
Social Media and the Anxiety Pandemic
Dr. David White, explores the unprecendented stress teenagers feel and how youth ministry can rewrite our social narratives.
Comparisons: How social media impacts Gen Z mental health
By Springtide
(in Mental Health)
See also:
… So we can rewire schools for belonging and achievement
Leading Discussions: Why Discuss? and Leading Discussions: Asking Good Questions by CYMT's Dietrich Kirk
Why follow Jesus if you don’t believe all of scripture?
Both include helpful insights when walking youth through faith and the Bible.
Helping teens resist oppression online by Rev. Dana Neuhauser, racial justice organizer for the Minnesota Annual Conference UMC
Youth Ministry by Any Other Name
![Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker: A Theological Vision for Discipleship and Life Together by [Andrew Root]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/513nmErqd6L.jpg)
