I’ve been posting some things over at YouthMinistryTV.com about mission trips, etc. You should go over there and check them out. If you feel like it, leave a comment, too. I’d love to hear what you have to say about missions and youth ministry.
Why Can’t You Do Missions At Home?
DO’s and DON’Ts for Missions
Hopefully, I’ll be posting more often over there soon. I hope to post regular youth ministry thoughts and ideas very soon.
Youth Ministry International offers certification for youth workers who have demonstrated certain qualifications for ministry. In fact, there are 52 essential qualities for a certified youth worker. We basically see these qualities as our goals for the students in the Centers for Youth Ministry throughout the world.
The essential qualities fall under 5 categories: skills, character, knowledge, programming, and academic and experiential training. Receiving the certification also allows the youth worker to conduct training and seminars on behalf of Youth Ministry International.
Almost one year ago, on May 27, 2007, YMI certified the first youth worker in the Ukraine. Today, we gave Huberto his youth ministry certification. He is the first Latin American youth worker that Youth Ministry International has certified, and it was an honor to be able to give him his certificate at his church this morning.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in his church and community now that he’s finished his seminary degree (of course, I am encouraging him to continue his education, but he’s finished for now). He should have more time to dedicate to the ministry, and he’s already doing a great job.
I could see today how great of a relationship he has with his students, and I could tell that they were looking for him for counsel. It was great to see him in action.
I just received a message from a friend of mine who’s a youth pastor in Kentucky about a great way his youth group is supporting missions. Phil is definitely a global youth worker.
Every Sunday morning and Wednesday night, they have a “snack shack” at their church. You know, the kind of place where students can buy a drink or a snack while they hang out with their friends.
Well, I just found out that the proceeds from the snack shack are going to missions. What a great idea to support missions as a youth ministry. I have always thought that something like that might be a great idea, and now it’s happening. What a great way to connect everyday life and missions.
Thanks, Shively Baptist Church!
I’ve been working a lot on a new look for our Spanish website (ministeriojuvenil.com), and I could really use help with content.
If you would like to contribute to training youth workers in Latin America, and you have experience in youth ministry, I’d love for you to write an article on youth ministry for the site. I’ll have it translated, we’ll post it, and we’ll even include a link to your blog or website.
If you’re interested, please leave a comment here, and I’ll get back to you. Of course, I reserve the right to decide what content gets put on the site.
This is an opportunity for you to be a global youth worker. Don’t miss out!
Series: Global Youth Ministry
This post is part of a series on Global Youth Ministry. Be sure to check out part 1 – Why Global Youth Ministry is Important.
Before you talk about a subject, you should define terms so that everyone is on the same page. When I’m talking about global youth ministry, I have a concept in my mind, and I’m sure not everyone thinks as crazy as I do, so I wanted to define some terms for you, at least in my mind, when it comes to global youth ministry and global youth workers.
Global Youth Ministry – Ministry to young people throughout the world. I’m not talking about a U.S. based youth group going on a mission trip, while that can contribute to international youth ministry. I’m talking about the 97% of youth population that lives outside of the United States and deserves the same opportunity for care and ministry that the students in your local high school deserve.
Global Youth Worker – A youth worker who is aware of the need to minister to young people all over the world and is doing their best to actively participate in ministry to young people regardless of their nationality or geographical location. This youth worker sees beyond his own youth group and dreams about personally impacting students throughout the world.
There are reports that 87% of the 3.6 billion people who live in Asia do not personally know a Christian (link). One out of every four young people on the planet live in China. There is a great need for international youth ministry. The youth pastors I know are doing a great job of ministering to their students. I just want to see the same opportunity for young people worldwide.
How would you define global youth ministry or a global youth worker?
