CHILDREN & YOUTH EVANGELISM
North Eastern Episcopal District Leadership Training Institute
Angela Marks, Presenter
Our ministries to children should always be advancing, improving, developing, strengthening, maturing and progressing.
-Esther Moreno, Author of The Progressive Children’s Ministry Leader
Children & Youth Evangelism
• What is Children/Youth Ministry?
• It Starts with You!
• The Right Lenses
• Foundations of Effective Evangelism
• Discipleship Roadmap
What is a children/youth ministry?
A work of service focused on teaching, equipping, and guiding young people from infancy through adolescence to encounter the presence and power of God through a relationship with Jesus Christ.. It provides opportunities for spiritual growth and personal development, helping them mature into committed disciples as they continue their journey of faith.
“It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
-Frederick Douglass
It Starts With You!
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP & COMMITMENT
• Foundation of Faith - Model and teach authentic faith.
• Living Out the Gospel - Allow them to see a tangible example of what it means to follow Jesus.
• Being Spirit-Led - Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to guide the ministry God’s way.
GOD’S PERSPECTIVE
• Value and Dignity of Children - Matt 19:14; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:16
• Spiritual Potential - Recognize their capacity is not limited to just learning.
HAVE A CLEAR VISION AND ROADMAP
• The Heart of a Shepherd - Care for the flock you’re entrusted with.
• Begin with the End in Mind - Have a Goal-Oriented Ministry.
• Age-Appropriate Discipleship - Meet them where they are.
• Community and Mentorship - Allow them to feel connected and supported inside and outside of church.
Topics Affecting Young People in the 21st Century
• Technology & Social Media Influence
• Online Safety & Cyberbullying
• Mental Health (Anxiety/Suicide)
• Education Challenges
• Family Structures
• Environmental Concerns
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Health & Wellness
• Social Injustice
• Cultural Awareness
• Government & Politics
• & More!
How the World See’s Them
The natural world is not scared in how they present the supernatural (spirit realm) to children. As children grow, peer influence can challenge their spiritual beliefs and practices. This can be particularly distressing during adolescence when identity and beliefs are still forming. It's in the media, their books and even their school curriculum and classrooms.
Any Questions?
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Their behavior and challenges shouldn't deter us away from seeing them from a spiritual perspective
Get Closer With The Right Lenses: Seeing Children/Youth
Through the Eyes of Jesus
VISION 20/20
How Do We View Them?
• After the flesh (behavior)?
• According to their age?
• By what the world says?
• As disciples?
• As brothers and sisters in Christ?
We must throw out our old thoughts of their capabilities and shortcomings and we must take on the mind of Christ when it comes to them. They are his disciples too!Becky Fischer
Matthew 19:14
It’s not about their current actions, it’s about what Christ can do in them to make them more credible and committed disciples.
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’
Matthew 18:1-3
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Mark 10:15-16
“I tell you the truth, ‘Anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”
They must have an opportunity to be train and equipped to identify their gifts both spiritual and natural, and use them for the building and expansion of God's Kingdom.
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Psalm 139: 13-14
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
1 Samuel 3:19
The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of
What can you do to change your heart about how you view
them so they can be taught and trained?
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Isaiah 54:13
“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 1:8-9
“Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.”
5 Foundations for Effective Evangelism
Relationship, Belonging & Trust
Youth today are often skeptical of institutions, including churches, and crave authentic relationships.
• Building trust through genuine, consistent relationships is foundational.
• Be alert to their personal needs.
• Listening without judgment, respecting their opinions, and valuing their unique personalities.
• Creating a safe space where they feel seen, heard, and valued establishes a foundation for meaningful conversations about faith.
Discipleshi p EQUIPPING
Discipleship
ROADMA
PRESENCE
Relationship
TEACHING
Understanding & Believing God's Word
SERVICE Ministry
5 Foundations for Effective Evangelism
Cultural Relevance & Connection
• Understanding the culture youth are immersed in helps communicate the gospel in a way that resonates with them. This includes being aware of current trends, language, challenges, and values.
• Allow faith to be relatable to their everyday lives. 2
• Using modern media, social platforms, and relevant storytelling techniques allows the gospel to be presented in a way that feels approachable
5 Foundations for Effective Evangelism
Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding of God’s Word 3
Many youth have deep questions and doubts about faith, truth, and purpose, often influenced by secular viewpoints.
• Be equipped to answer questions
• Create a space for tough questions
• Allow for discussions that are honest and respectful which can help youth see that faith is rational and relevant.
TEACHIN
• Give them Meat! Challenge their understanding.
• Bring the Bible to Life! Be Creative!
• Engage the SOUL (Mind, Will, Emotions)
• Helps to Navigating Life Challenges while Trusting God
• Worship, Praise & Pray While Learning
TEACHING
Understanding & Believing God's Word
5 Foundations for Effective Evangelism
Make Faith Personal & Tangible
Youth are more likely to be impacted by experiencing God’s presence than by simply hearing about it.
4
• Encourage practices such as worship and prayer experiences
• Promote personal encounters with God’s presence, a time for reflection can create encounters that make faith personal and transformative.
• When youth experience God’s love, peace, or guidance personally, it shifts faith from an abstract concept to a lived reality.
Create a type of spiritual environment where your children and families experience God rather than just learning about Him. Relationship is the Key!
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”
- Matthew 5:6
PRESENC
• Creating an atmosphere they can encounter God
• Allow them to sense God’s presence in diverse ways
• Cultivate their spiritual gifts and give room for them to use them
EQUIPPING
Discipleship
PRESENCE Relationship
TEACHING
God's Word
EQUIPPIN G
• Train them with effective tools
• Application through real experiences
• Cultivate leadership in them to take on roles in the church and community
EQUIPPING
Discipleship
LEARN & KNOW HIM
Understanding & Believing God's Word
How to Successfully Train & Equip
5 Steps of Leadership Development
5 Foundations for Effective Evangelism
Empower & Involve
5
Youth need to feel like they have a place and purpose within the church.
• Giving them responsibilities, roles in worship or service, and opportunities to lead and serve in ways that match their gifts
• Identify and utilize their interests and passions which helps them to see their faith as active and alive. This empowers them to be contributors, not just consumers, of the gospel.
• Foster a sense of purpose and belonging reinforcing their identity and sense of belonging in God’s family.
SERVICE
• Let them model what they learned in the ministry, at church and home.
• Encourage leadership and consistency
• Connect and involve parents in the mission.
EQUIPPING
Discipleship
PRESENCE
Relationship
TEACHING
God's Word
