Comments on: Youth Ministry & the Economy

By: Dan Haugh

Dan Haugh — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:06:06 +0000

Great thoughts and challenging questions
check out http://emergingyouth.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/money-less-youth-ministry/ for a related topic about the affects of the economy on our present (and future) states of youth ministry

By: Danny Long

Danny Long — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:20:59 +0000

The economy is definitely having an impact on ministry. I know for our church our budgets were cut about 40%. The great thing with this is that it forces us to refocus on what is really important. I know we would all like the latest and greatest “stuff” to help us reach students, but if we really think about it and we think about the basics ministry is relationships and relationships don’t have to cost a lot of money. I think as we get back to the basics and remember why get started to do ministry in the first place we will hope that Subway keeps the $5.00 footlongs for a while!

By: Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:48:05 +0000

hey dude…just got an email for the youthfront getaway for youth pastors. i can’t go but i just wanted to say that’s very cool of you guys to do something like that for free. nobody does that.

By: Darrin Geier

Darrin Geier — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:10:32 +0000

Thanks for the post Chris. Yes, the economy has certainly taken its toll here with our ministry. I think that more than anything, it has effected the level at which our students are signing up for the events we offer. Families are making tough choices about how to spend their money.

Because of this, we’ve taken the hit financially. You know how it goes. You commit a certain number of participants for that weekend retreat or summer mission trip. Then when you don’t fill the spots, you’re out big bucks.

But you know it has made us take a good long look at what we do and why. We’ve had to ask some tough questions of ourselves. Is what we do only possible with an adequate budget? Are we too reliant on the big, the extra, the flashy, the “impressive”? Have we lost touch with the Kingdom of God, which advances no matter what the economic climate?

This summer we’ve put more emphasis on the small moments…time spent with our students which is not dependent on a big event. We hope this turn away from an event-driven program mode will allow our students to feel pursued, regardless of their ability to pay for or show up to something.

By: catalyst,

catalyst, — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:45:29 +0000

Only the can lead any nations in to prosperity.so gave them educations.