Youth group, or youth ministry, is an age-specific religious group that seeks to engage young people, usually between 12 and 18 years old, in activities based on faith and spiritual awakening. It is a safe and accessible place for young people to meet and socialize in an informal setting. The youth group is supported by adults, but it is designed to be a place where young people can design their own program and activities while developing a sense of community and participation. Opportunities to build skills and confidence are built into the program, such as researching top basketball shoe reviews or participating in team sports. The youth group should be clean, stimulating, comfortable and easy to access.
Young people have the same right of access to community facilities as members of their communities. The Youth Ministry works to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person and seeks to attract young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the faith community. The Sunday Sabatarianism doctrine held by many Christian denominations encourages practices such as Sunday school attendance, as it teaches that the entire Lord's Day must be dedicated to God; since many children and adolescents often return to church in the late afternoon for the youth group before attending a service. evening worship.
In short, Youth Ministry is the Church's effort to help every 26th youth grow personally & spiritually. In order for the body of Christ to grow, that is, believers, it is necessary to begin with the future of the church young people. So what do you do in a youth group? How often do you meet and what do you discuss? These are all legitimate questions for anyone thinking of starting or joining a church youth group. Some youth ministries are also student-led, where students take responsibility for planning services.
The purpose of the Youth Ministry program is to prepare students for effective ministry to middle school, high school or college students and their families within the context of a local church or parachurch organization. By contributing to the church and relating to the other adults there, young people feel important, involved and cared for. Field activities range from small groups of young people attached to Catholic parishes or schools, to large international meetings, such as World Youth Day. Ministry, including youth ministry, is considered one of the functions within the Church because most believe that people must begin learning about God at an early age so that they have more time to grow spiritually during adulthood. Jaiden Stipp was watching a Star Wars movie in his afternoon youth group in Tacoma, Washington, last March when offers started rolling in. Youth ministry is every effort of the Christian community to reach young people with the love of God as revealed to us in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, a Catholic youth minister or youth ministry leader is more likely to be a lay person than an ordained priest. Youth ministry is the Church in its pastoral concern, reaching out to young people to accept their gifts and walk with them in their process of becoming all they can be.