Covenant News

Study: Longevity a Key in Successful Youth Ministry

CHICAGO, IL (April 7, 2004) - Three Evangelical Covenant churches are among numerous local churches to be profiled in a book scheduled for release next year as a result of a recent Exemplary Congregations in Youth Ministry study.

Churches to be featured include Rolling Hills Covenant Church in southern California, Thornapple Evangelical Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Rochester Covenant Church in Minnesota.

The Exemplary Congregations in Youth Ministry Study took a close look at seven mainline denominations in an attempt to identify some of the best congregations that are helping youth mature in the Christian faith. The study looked at congregations of different sizes, locations, and cultural and Christian traditions. Other denominations included in the study included the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist, Assemblies of God, Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Methodist Church.

Site visits to the three local Covenant churches were coordinated by Marti Burger, director of Youth and Family Ministries for the Evangelical Covenant Church. "Overall, it was very encouraging to go to the churches and talk to parents, youth and other people volunteering with the youth," Burger said. "They were really humbled that they were being considered. And when you go to churches like those, you feel proud to be a Covenanter. The youth programs are respected by the other programs in the church and the churches recognize the importance of those ministries."

Burger offered brief overviews of the three Covenant churches included in the book:

• Rolling Hills Covenant: Approximately 350 students are involved in high school ministry in this congregation averaging 3,281 in worship attendance. Bill MacPhee, pastor of youth ministries, oversees a handful of full and part-time pastors along with nearly 60 small group leaders. Part of the church's youth group as a teen, he was called to serve following a lengthy tenure at Hillcrest Covenant Church in Prairie Village, Kansas.

  "When interviewed, parents of the students made positive comments about the youth staff," Burger said. "Many felt that their kids wanted to be like the leaders and some of the adults said they wanted to be more like the leadership. Many were very appreciative of the time and energy that the staff was willing to give to their child and felt that the staff and volunteers were able to impact their child differently then they would be able to do. They felt that the team was very responsible and helpful when students were trying to sort out life issues."

• Thornapple Covenant: Around 100 high school students participate in this congregation averaging 710 in worship attendance. Steve Raisch, pastor for youth ministry, is assisted by junior high ministry associate Linda Winer. A large group of parents serve as small group leaders, facilitators for Sunday school and Bible studies as well as leaders for mission trips and events. Volunteers are selected based on student requests and reflect a range of ages and occupations.

  "It was very evident that parents are partners in ministry with the church," Burger said. "Parents set examples for their children, staff members live their lives in front of the congregation and all are living examples of people who are trusting God for all aspects of life. The youth feel the same thing - they aren't forced, but are encouraged, to live their life for Christ 24/7. They have made the transition from doing to being a follower of Christ. What makes Steve different than other youth pastors is his teaching style," Burger continued. A former schoolteacher, he typically will ask them 20 questions until the students get the answers themselves. "Steve wants kids to own their own faith, so kids leave a group knowing what they believe, not just what Steve believes," Burger added.

• Rochester Covenant: The youth group ranges from 50 to 75 in this congregation averaging 300 in worship attendance. John DuBall, associate pastor of youth and families, is assisted by Shane Richardson and Jim Eaton. From five to seven volunteers meet Monday nights with small groups and participate in a Sunday morning educational hour. Drama and worship coordination and a youth choir are integral parts of senior high ministry - the church's junior high ministry also thrives with the help of high school-age leaders, assisted by a strong parent advisory council.

  "John wants to empower people (volunteers) to do what God wants them to do," said Burger. "All of them continue to grow and search and stretch after God's heart as to what they're supposed to do and how they're supposed to do it. None of them feel like they have THE answers, but they truly love youth ministry and feel truly called to what they're doing. And what is even more remarkable is the fact that the youth understand that it is their ministry and it would be up to them to step up to the plate if John DuBall left the ministry of the church."

A common thread in the three churches includes the longevity of youth leadership (all have been in place at least nine years) and the feeling that they are part of a pastoral team. "They (the youth) are not referred to as 'the church of the future,'" Burger notes. "They're seen as part of the church - the kids have key roles in the church. They're on leadership teams, they're part of the leadership components of the church (search committees, ushers) and there are authentic relationships among the youth, both with each other and with adults. All of the youth pastors see the parents as the primary spiritual mentor of the students. It's a huge shift - we taught people to bring the kids to youth group, drop them off and they'd get their moral and spiritual fiber taken care of in the church. Now we know that we (youth pastors) are only one of the players in the development of youth. And the parents are the primary spiritual role models."

Along with the insights she gained from her site visits, Burger says she learned valuable things about youth ministry in general. Data shared in the upcoming book might make it seem that only large churches could have thriving youth ministry programs, Burger cautions, noting that many smaller churches have stellar programs, but may not have had the advantage a long-time full-time youth pastor, which was a requirement of the study. "We've learned that kids are looking for someone who will be there for the long haul; they are looking for authentic relationships and they are feeling a part of the entire church," says Burger. "A lot of small churches are giving kids those things."

An Exemplary Youth Ministry conference will be held in Boston in August next year and two books will be released at that time - one a "how to" book geared for the general public, and the other focused on the research questions, statistical data and study methodology.

To learn more about the Exemplary Youth Ministry study and findings, call Burger at 773-583-0220.

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