Youth Ministry Starter Pack
The Youth Ministry Starter Pack covers the timeless basics of youth ministry and is designed to support leaders at every stage.
Whether you have been leading for a week or for a long time, there is something here for you, with each topic including a short video, downloadable team and personal reflection guides, and additional resources if you want to go deeper. The pack is flexible enough to work in a range of ministry contexts.
If you are new to youth ministry, we recommend starting with Vision and Values, as it helps you clarify what kind of ministry you are building and what will shape it over time. If you are part of a staff or leadership team, you may want to work through the pack together, if you are leading on your own, you can move through it at your own pace or explore it alongside other youth leaders in your area.
However, you choose to engage with it, you are not on your own. BYM’s support team is here to walk alongside you throughout, and we’d love to help if you want someone to talk with, plan with, or facilitate a training session around the pack.
How to use the 'Starter Pack' resource.
The Starter Pack is designed to be used over time, not rushed through all at once. You might work through it over a weekend retreat, in regular team meetings, or on your own in smaller chunks as you go.
Step 1 Start with Vision and Values, especially if you are new to ministry. This will help you name what kind of youth ministry you are building and the values that will guide your decisions.
Step 2 Work through the short video for each topic. Use it to introduce the key ideas and start the conversation.
Step 3 Use the Team Reflection Guide with your leaders, the Personal Reflection Guide before or after team reflections on your own and encourage everyone to do the same or if you are working through the material on your own. These are there to help you slow down, reflect, and think about how the content applies in your local context.
Step 4 Explore the Additional Resources section if you want to go deeper. These books, podcasts, articles, and tools can help you keep learning and applying what you are discovering.
Step 5 Choose one or two practical next steps after each topic. The goal is not just to collect ideas, but to help shape your culture, leadership, and ministry over time.
Step 6 Come back to the pack regularly. Revisit topics in team meetings, on retreats, or when your ministry is entering a new season, and reach out to BYM if it would be helpful for us to facilitate a conversation or training around it.
