In Merton Strommen’s book, Passing on the Faith, he calls for youth leaders to establish a Christian youth subculture. Strommen says, “When the culture of the nation no longer supports the Christian faith, a Christian youth subculture becomes a safe place for youth to discuss their questions and concerns about faith, to develop Christian leadership skills, and to form relationships with other youth and caring adults” (Strommen, 187). But, how can you do that in a small church?

Most of the things Strommen suggests are do-able with a few teenagers. In fact, some of them are easier. Here’s what Strommen recommends:

1. Discuss youth issues. Teenagers face tough problems: families that fall apart around them, friends trying drugs, sexual thoughts and feelings, and a lot more. They need to be able to talk about how those things are addressed in a life of faith.
2. Faith-sharing experiences. It makes a huge difference in the faith experience of teenagers when they are able to make Christ’s love known to other people. This can be as simple as saying, “I just wanted to share the love of Jesus with you today,” after they wash the car windshield of a stranger in a parking lot.
3. Fun and Fellowship activities. Teenagers love time to be together. Events like bowling, laser tag, or eating pizza are easy to organize when you have a small group.
4. Service and peer ministry. At church, teach teenagers to be encourager. On Monday at school, it’s game day.
5. Involvement in music. A lot of kids would balk at being in a youth choir. Few dislike attending a praise concert when the music is targeted to them.
6. Informal friendship groups. Small youth groups ought to be places where friends are welcome and everyone is a friend. Don’t force it, but tell kids that is the goal.
7. Adults counseling youth. Not “counseling” in the clinical sense. More offering counsel as a grandfather or older brother would.
8. Congregational leadership. Teenagers need the opportunity to try out leadership roles in the church. It creates a sense of connection to each other and to the body of Christ. This is much easier to accomplish in a small church.

Youth ministry is not the only way teenagers will develop spiritually, but it is huge in its influence on kids.

Strommen, Merton P. and Richard A. Hardel. Passing on the Faith: A Radical New Model for Youth and Family Ministry (Winona, MN: Saint Mary’s Press, 2000).