Catholic Youth Rural Outreach at Box 277, Bigfork, MT 59911 US - Do's and Don'ts of Youth Ministry

Do...	Don't...
Get help	Do it alone
Be concerned with ALL youth	Get caught up in how many kids come to a particular activity
Set clear, concrete goals and objectives	Forget that youth ministry is based on RELATIONSHIPS
Keep the Pastor informed	Get into struggles that diminish the ministry
Use the current structure and programs of the parish	Create a "separate" parish for youth
Use youth leaders	Forget adult advisors
Integrate with the current religious education structure	Create an "us vs. them" situation
Use the publications, videos, diocesan and other programs already in place	Reinvent the wheel. Customize it
Cooperate with other parishes	Compete or create an island mentality
Involve as many parishioners as possible	Create personal "kingdoms"
Remember the goals of youth ministry	Be content to have "something for kids to do"
Challenge adults, parents, parish organizations and leadership to play their part	Apologize for asking people to live out their faith
Pray	Forget that you don't have to save every kid... someone already did that!

Copyright 1998, CYF, permission to reproduce for noncommercial use is granted. www.catholicyouth.org

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