How much should a church budget for youth ministry (apart from the salary package of a youth minister)? Or should all youth ministry money be raised in fund raisers?

-- Anonymous, October 13, 1999

Answers

I firmly believe the youth ministry should be financed just like any other ministry of the church.

Now the option of raising funds for special projects or trips is always open.

-- Anonymous, October 13, 1999

The primary problem in creating an effective youth ministry is it requires a firm financial base. The question becomes "who" is responsible for this financial foundation? Is it the church or the community? Is it the adults or the youth, or both? Is it the task of a youth minister to create the need or to fill it?

Your answer will determine your route: church financing or fundraisers. In the end, only one is truly reasonable and proactive: a firm budget which arises from the congregational beliefs in their youth ministry. Fundraisers are a reactive, temporary answer to meeting financial need. A budget requires pre- planning (you have to know WHAT you're going to do--months in advance- -before you can know HOW MUCH it'll cost and, therefore, BUILD IT into your budget). A budget reveals congregational philosophy about youth ministry.

Youth groups who spend their time "fundraisin'" are building a program around money and not the Master (you can't serve both God and money!). Finally, in the end, the people who give in fundraising are either the church members (where does a budget get its money?) or the community (what type of image does that create for your church?). Youth ministry will spend more money than it makes. However, since most people make their decisions for Christ before age 18, money isn't the issue!

Okay, that's the philosophy. Let me give you a practical rule. A good youth ministry (and even children's ministry) budget will provide between $50 and $100 per year, per kid involved (including kids who come occasionally). If you have 10 teens normally, a yearly budget would run $500-$1000. A group of 100 would need between $5000 - $10,000, annually.

A good budget will include three basic areas: PROGRAMMING (speakers, resources, curriculum, music, giveaways, etc.), ACTIVITIES (scholarships for camps, conventions, conferences),and TRAINING (volunteer training, resources, videos, conferences). I recommend an individual budget for every 50 kid "age group." A Grade 7-12 group of 100 would actually have two budgets: Middle School (7-9) and High School (10-12). By the way, in no way, should a paid youth worker's salary ever be tied to the youth budget (even in the smallest of churches). A youth minister works for the whole church, not just a segment.

One last thought: there is no greater revelation of what a church believes about her youth ministry than what they budget and how they raise it. Many youth ministries are crippled from effectiveness because they spend their time raising funds, rather than lifting Jesus!

Rick Chromey Professor of Youth Ministry St. Louis Christian College

-- Anonymous, October 16, 1999

What I have found to work is if a church puts a particular sum of money into a fund strickly for the youth to use. For example, at the church in which I serve we designate 5% of offerings into the fund. This helps keep the group alive for trips, materials etc.

Often I have found that churches tend to think that the youth must "work" for the money for a trip- this may be true in some cases- but not always fair or right. The church should want kids to go on trip such as to CIY for the spiritual growth involved for the youth.

Just my thoughts

-- Anonymous, October 16, 1999

Hello, all. I am uneasy about some of the responses about 'fund raising'. I am of the opinion that no church will ever need to get out and "pound the pavement"; hold "raffles"; have "car washes" or have a "bazaar" for the church IF 1) the youth minister and staff AND the entire leadership of the church are committed to prayer about the ministry and 2) if you put enough faith in God to provide in any and all circumstances.

After all, God already owns all the resources you need...why isn't the local church supporting the ministry??? Why do we feel the need to constantly force people to give only if we sell them a candy bar or offer some service in return??? Shouldn't the money for the ministry come from the tithes of the people because of the blessing of God's hand on their lives??

Here's how our budget for the ministries at our church go: (I am the Music Minister)...

1) You are in charge of your area, you determine what your needs are after MUCH PRAYER and SEEKING GOD'S FACE and HIS VISION for your ministry.

2) After PRAYER you determine your plan of ministry for the next year and estimate the approximate costs, including allowance for expansion of that ministry because of growth.

3) Turn in an itemized budget at the end of November to the Business Manager (or finance ministry).

4) If there are any questions, the finance ministry may ask for clarification...but the do not have line-item veto power.

5) All budgets are complied and given to the elders who pray over the entire budget and them submit it in the annual report for the next calendar year in January. (The congregation doesn't vote on it or "approve" it...how would they have any clue as to the costs of ministry? The leadership handles that.

This system is great; it works excellent.

I'm interested in your thoughts if you have any. Thanks for letting me on my soap box. I now step down.

Don Gergely

-- Anonymous, November 12, 1999

I am responding to the 2nd question in your post. It would be convenient if all money needed to run the youth ministry was included in the general budget, but I'm not sure it's wise. We use the approach that most teens take things for granted and it would be encouraging that attitude to provide the large trips like CIY, missions trips, etc. at no cost to the youth. You value something to the extent that you work to receive it (not true in one case: your salvation). So we do one main fund raiser for a missions trip (a golf tournament) and do support letters for the rest. Then we have a huge rummage sale for CIY $. Most of the other expenses come out of a planned budget. It's a good balance I believe.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 1999

See Comment in topic "Church Fund Raising...."

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

I think that extra money for a youth monistry should be included in the budget. In our youth group we do charge $1 for activities, and the money goes to help cover the expenses. But this summer I was given the oppurtunity to serve with CEF in Iceland, but will not be able to go because my church does not have any budgeted money for this sort of thing. I know it is part of God's perfect plan if I do not go. But the harvest is white, and there are young people willing to go -- shouldn't the money be there fir them?

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

JoDee,

You said, I know it is part of God's perfect plan if I do not go.. Why do you assume it would be a part of God's plan? Maybe God wants you to go and your church isn't handling this right. Why do we assume that everything that happens is God's will?

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002