August Victory Story

From Youth Group to Thriving Youth Ministry 

When Chris Salvevold first started working at Becker Evangelical Free Church in 2004, his church only had twenty-five solid and committed kids. Now, they have eighty-five. His youth are hungry for the truth; he sees signs of a spiritual awakening with teens who want to know if this Jesus they keep hearing about is real. The task of reaching and discipling this generation is hard. But Chris and his youth ministry are more than willing to take on the challenge.

When asked how the BattleCry campaign helped his ministry, he replied, “It reminds us what’s at stake. It’s a constant reminder and encouragement to rise up and engage in the warfare for the hearts and minds of the kids. The BattleCry newsletter is a great tool to equip leaders and keep them in the know about what is going on.”

Fighting Together

Most youth pastors realize that youth ministry is hard without help, but Chris is not alone in the battle. His youth group knows that their peers are on the verge of walking away from God. Last year, one of his youth left an Acquire the Fire event saying, “We are in a battle, we need to be an army for Jesus. This youth group needs to be that army.” The young people are not passively watching as their peers are claimed by the culture they live in. His group understands what is at stake, this generation.  

The adults in his church have seen the need to reach out to young people and taken it to heart. Chris is blessed to have an amazing group of leaders and volunteers who support the youth ministry. He told BattleCry, “I have twenty adults that say, ‘I want to be part of what God’s doing.’ It’s cool to see people rallying behind the youth ministry. Parents are also seeing what God is doing and they want to help. God has been so faithful.”

Chris is also grateful to have a pastor that understands the importance of youth ministry and constantly encourages him in the work. His pastor often tells his congregation about what God is doing in the young people’s lives and makes sure that they do not forget about the youth ministry.

In the fall, Chris anticipates that the youth group will reach the 100 mark. He wants the youth to know that the leaders are genuinely excited about what God will do in the teens’ lives, and he encourages them to continue digging deeper. With his church family behind him and a vibrant group of young people, Chris’ youth ministry is well on their way to “forcefully advancing the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 11:12 - NIV).

Branching Out

As a youth pastor, Chris believes that one of the healthy signs of his group’s ministry is when students take the initiative to minister to their peers and realize that they do not need adults to be involved in every aspect of their spiritual lives.

Chris saw this in action when a few senior high guys started a men’s Bible study on Tuesday morning in McDonalds. At first they met at school for accountability and prayer but it turned into a Bible study at McDonalds as more guys came. The weekly gathering was a non-threatening outreach where guys could ask questions, express thoughts, and talk about specific issues they were dealing with.

“These guys challenged each other to reach beyond the walls of their youth group and this Bible study to make an impact in the school and community,” explained Chris. What started out with three guys eventually grew to twenty-five.

Those guys are not the only examples of God moving in Chris’ young people. More of them want to take things further for the Lord. They have said, “We want to start something too.” And asked the question, “What else can we do to serve Jesus and build God’s kingdom?”

Hurricane relief efforts, nursing home outreaches, discipleship groups, and student-led Bible studies are just some of the young people’s efforts. They have a desire to serve and make their lives count that will not be satisfied by a short-term mission trip. They want to keep their fire going, bring it back into the community, and change the world for Jesus.

Advice for Others

When BattleCry asked him if he had advice for others who want to make a difference, he shared the following thoughts for parents, senior pastors, and youth pastors.
 
Chris suggests that parents find a way to help their youth pastor. “You have something to offer, you just have to discover it. Sit down with your youth pastor and talk. Free up some time for them. I have parents who every Wednesday evening watch my youth leader’s kids so that they can come in and invest in the teen’s lives.”

Parents are not the only ones who can be help out; senior pastors can be a big blessing to the youth ministry. Chris gives this piece of advice for senior pastors: “Please use the pulpit to affirm youth leaders and pastors. It speaks volumes not only to the church body but to the youth pastor. When my pastor talked about the students at McDonalds, it was so powerful, for the kids and the leaders. Find out what is going on in the lives of your kids and tell your congregation.” The senior pastor can be one of the biggest allies for a youth pastor.

As a youth pastor, Chris knows some of the challenges they face. He offers the following advice for other youth pastors. “Do not be intimidated by the pastor or the kid’s parents. Parents love their kids. Even overprotective parents who are involved can contribute in amazing ways.”

Sometimes God brings different people along to help out the youth pastor. “It ultimately comes down to being willing to work with whoever God brings your way. The youth ministry is not your baby. Too often youth pastors try to design it the way they think it should look while God is trying to form a team and a ministry with the people that He brings together,” said Chris. In the end, the job of the youth pastor is to simply be obedient.

Unless churches, ministries, and people take up the challenge to reach young people with the gospel and disciple them into solid Christians, this generation will walk away from the loving reach of God and towards the open arms of this immoral culture. The BattleCry campaign exists to take back this generation and to help youth groups like Chris’ become thriving youth ministries that reconnect young people with God.


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