If you are planning on on being at your church for only a year, then doubling it should be easy, but you have to hurry.
Throw lot’s of party’s and events.
Games, more games, and game nights.
Keep your messages to ten minutes tops.
Do not challenge anyone to serve or lead.
Give away lots of expensive stuff.
Crank up the hype machine.
Don’t mention the cross or following Jesus.
Don’t talk about giving, sacrifice, or surrender.
Have a hot band with shallow worship songs and a worship leader that just wants to be seen.
Make sure you take lots of selfies with the latest whatever and whoever.
At the end of the year, thank them for showing up to all the cool stuff and avoiding Sunday school, Small Group, prayer times, revivals and anything that remotely looks like commitment.
Pack your car and head out.
Sarcastic rant ended.
Granted, a youth group can double in a year minus some of these tactics. Demographics, church culture, and honest moves of God can all play a part, but why the rush to grow?
You want the real secret to growing your youth ministry?
You ready? Here it is. Patience.
If you’re planning on being at your your church for more than three years you have plenty of time to grow numerically. Until then do this
Love kids.
Show up to their stuff.
Build a foundation of identity and community.
Build a reputation of reliability, faithfulness, and godliness.
Serve the whole church.
Teach and preach scripture with passion.
Love and serve families.
Call kids to follow Jesus, not you.
Encourage small groups and small encounters.
Make Jesus the focus of your worship.
and
Love kids.
Everything else is a tactic.
Want to draw a crowd? Tactics will do.
Want to make disciples? Patience is the key.
Watch me break it down below