This is a high energy, upbeat, innovative and equipping training for small group facilitators who are working with youth. Our experience with Peer Ministers effectively leading other youth in faith and life discussions led us to create an experiential training that can be used for all types of Bible Studies. It has also proven to be fun material for energizing adult groups.

Four words that are crucial for any adolescent ministry to be successful...

If we want youth to value the church, the church must be willing to value youth. This means giving youth a ministry with substance. For years I have trained youth in Peer Ministry, giving them the tools to care. One of the great applications of Peer Ministry happens when youth lead other youth in small group discussions.

My first amazing ah-ha happened when I started using youth to facilitate small groups. It was then that I observed youth who participated in those small groups begin to offer open and heart felt prayers. I’m a good teacher. I like to teach. I can teach wonderful creative session on prayer. But youth didn’t pray because of my ingenious prayer lessons. One of the questions I was forced to ask was, “Who were their models of people who pray?” For many it was the pastor and myself. But, we were paid prayers. I don’t think we really counted. Those who did count were talented, real life, youth facilitators.

The second amazing ah-ha was that many of the youth who participated in these small groups also wanted to become small group facilitators. A year into this we had so many leaders that we had to find more youth who wanted to participate! The facilitators took on the challenge and filled their groups.

A third amazing ah-ha was that many of those high school facilitators have continued in ministry as camp counselors, youth and family ministers, pastors, and best of all as volunteers for churches! Give youth a purpose, a chance to be needed, and their hearts will lead them into a life long caring ministry.

From my own experiences and helping others catch such a vision I am excited to be a part of sharing this resource with you!

I didn’t see myself as a leader. But I was continually put into positions of responsibility, from singing solos in grade school to working as a camp counselor to bring president of my Luther League group. I was involved and connected. This happened because of a number of adults and youth that cared about me, guided me, and gave me opportunities to grow throughout my early spiritual development. They were my seed planters. They saw me as valuable and treated me that way.

After having these experiences, one question has always concerned me: Why did the church experience a mass exodus of youth after formal religious training? After confirmation, youth seemed to fall off the face of the planet. Why were they leaving? Or better yet, why weren’t they staying? After much reflection the conclusion was clear: We all need a place to belong and to be seen as valued participants, and the church wasn’t always providing that for my peers.

Over the years I realized Jesus had provided us the most effective model to make youth feel they are valued part of the church: small group ministry. It provides caring relationships, support, guidance, and meaningful involvement. The next step, after realizations was to tap into our most valuable resource: youth! This small group manual will equip youth and adults with the tools to help group grow and nurture faith.

8-10 hrs

Invite The Institute to send a trainer to teach your area leaders to facilitate this training in their own congregations, camps and schools. This works well for leadership retreats or one-day events. Most groups are between 12 to 20 people.

6 – 8 hrs

Invite The Institute to train all your leaders from your congregation, or from area congregations getting together. Groups can range from 30 to 150 people.

2 - 4 hrs

The training will motivate and inspire small group leaders, equipping them with new skills to run effective groups. We will customize a training to fit your group of any size.