Just what you need – along with lots of prayer and patience – to get started as an advisor for your congregational group.

So, you’ve been chosen, called, drafted, or missed the council meeting where the assignments were given and now you’re calling youth and family your own. No resources in the world will replace your love of the kids that are a part of your faith family. However, these will help as a place to start.

Budgeting – yes, it’s an ugly word but money matters and don’t be afraid to ask for money to build your skills. Free resources are listed on the last page.

Level 1 –
$100 – if you have this and no more, attend the Passing on Faith Conference. Next scheduled - TBA.

Level 2 $200 – Add the above and the following great resources…
Blessing Bowl and Mat - $ 26.95 www.tyfi.org
FaithTalk® With Children - $19.95 www.tyfi.org or Augsburg Fortress Store - 704.642.0557
Frogs without Legs Can’t Hear - $15.95 www.tyfi.org or Augsburg Fortress Store – 704.642.0557
Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry - $14.99 Augsburg Fortress Store – 704.642.0557
The Lutheran Handbook & CEV Bible – $17.99 Augsburg Fortress Store – 704.642.0557

Level 3 $300 – All of the above and the following…
Nooma DVDs – Rain, Noise, Dust - $30.00 There are currently 13 DVDs. Keeping within the budget, these are three I'd recommend to start with.
For Everything A Season - $14.95 www.tyfi.org or Augsburg Fortress Store – 704.642.0557
Heart Ignite - $10.95 www.tyfi.org
Family-based Youth Ministry - $15.00 Augsburg Fortress Store – 704.642.0557
Soul Searching - $28.00 Augsburg Fortress Store – 704.642.0557

The following free resources are available on the website:

Family Table Devotions – weekly, lectionary-based place mats for each faith family in your congregation to use. Includes text, questions, challenges, etc.

Four Key ideas – ways to use the four keys: caring conversations, devotions, service, rituals and traditions. One page of ideas for each key.

Table Talks – one for each month. A one-page sheet of 7 questions to get families talking. Another way to help caring conversations happen.

Youth Resource List – compiled by our Heilig Resource Center Director, Catherine Fink. This is a listing of youth resources available for loan from the Heilig Resource Center.

Faith Formation sheet – lists the five themes of faith formation, the Four Keys and the 8 faith factors.

Characteristics of a mature Christian youth – these findings are based on the Exemplary YM Study that is the latest information on faith formation.

Small Group tool box – grab one of those pencil boxes and fill it with the tools listed for small group time. You’ll be glad you did.

Other websites you might want to check out…

Help sheets available from the ELCA include…

Index of Help Sheet titles

Help for congregational leaders and committees
• Calling and providing for youth ministry staff
• Discerning your call to youth and family ministry
• How does youth ministry fit into the ministry of the whole congregation?
• Position descriptions for youth and family ministry staff
• Staffing your youth ministry program
• "Theological Framework for Youth Ministry"

Everyday tools of youth ministry
• Build a Web page for youth ministry
• Communication and publicity ideas
• Fundraising
• The art of invitation
• What's grace got to do with it?

Youth ministry and the congregation
• Bridge the gap between rural and [sub]urban youth ministry
• Confirmation as youth ministry
• Developing a healthy junior high ministry
• Foundations for youth and family ministry
• In the city for good youth ministry
• Ministering to young adults
• Planning congregational worship experiences with youth
• Postmodernity and ministry with the millennial generation
• Promote 'girl power!' in your congregation
• Young leaders in adult settings
• Youth ministry stretches to include families

Leadership guidelines and issues
• Developing a budget
• Ensure safe boundaries in youth ministries
• Preventing and responding to abuse
• Youth ministry is risky business

Caring for youth
• 'Boys will be boys,' right? Not necessarily so!
• Helping youth become financially responsible
• Helping youth grieve
• Peer ministry: an education of the heart
• Teach and reach youth about HIV/AIDS
• Youth and anxiety

Program helps
• Finding God in today's secular music
• Hate crimes: an American tragedy
• Help young people give?globally
• Learn & teach cult awareness
• Moving beyond Muslim media images
• Reading and hearing scripture with young people
• Service Learning in congregations
• Say no to gangs
• Spirited storytelling in youth ministry
• Teenage spirituality
• Try improvising on purpose
• Using popular media

Faithlens – a weekly Bible study based on current events and the lectionary.

Reel World – movie discussion guides.

Dramatix is a community effort sharing QUALITY drama scripts by Christians around the world. The majority may be used FREE of charge, although a modest royalty payment is requested for some.

Choose from 146 free Christian children's sermons that take less than five minutes to give. Each sermon has a summary and Bible reference. Los sermones para niños en español también.

The Youth & Family Institute seeks to provide helpful articles and resources for church leaders to support the implementation our ministry framework. On this page you'll find articles written by our staff along with resources you can use and share with your church leadership. You may also find articles you'd like to utilize in your church newsletter or on your church's website. Please contact Jim LaDoux to obtain copyright permission for use of our articles in your publications. Please also let us know what information might be most helpful to you as you minister to youth and their families. All articles below have been created as downloadable PDFs.

Articles written by Marilyn Sharpe
Family Vacations
Faith Milestones
Time - God's Gift to FamiliesFamily Sabbath
The Hardest Topic in Parenting
New Beginnings All You Need Is Love
Back to School
Holy GroundA Family-Friendly Culture . . . Could be
Abundance
Being in the PresentThe Holidays - doing things different
Everyday Love Letters
Give Them a ChildhoodGraduations
Let Freedom Ring

Articles written by Dr. Dick Hardel
Emotional Wellness
Everything Pretend but Faith
Hospitality of GraceHow's Your Laugh Life
In Remembrance of Me
Living in GraceSabbath Moments
The Gift of the FaithChest®
The Power of LaughterThey Gave a FaithChest®

Articles written by Lyle Griner
Time to Let Peer Ministers Care

Other Downloads
Resource Center Information
ReadyClickGrow!
Preaching & Teaching SeriesFaithChests®
FaithChest® Plans
Free Bible StudiesFaithChest® labels

Copyright 2006 North Carolina Lutheran Synod