I have the great pleasure of working with youth out of a small town church just to the north of Kansas City MO.  We have a couple of very large churches in town (one is a mega the other on the verge of mega) that both have exceptional youth ministries.  My church on the other hand has little money, a few youth and a history of well meaning but failed attempts at starting a group.  

When I was asked (was I asked or did the pastor do some sort of Jedi mind trick on me---I am not really sure at this point) to take a shot at this ministry area I did what any faithful, seminary educated, long time pastor would do:  I went to the internet and tried to find a few ideas I could pass off as my own!    There is a ton of great stuff out there.  Stuff for big groups, little groups, groups of multigenerational Christians, groups of families, for town and country and for urban.  Don't believe me?  Google search youth ministry sometime and look at the crazy number of things that pop up. 

The interesting part for me was that I never did find the listing for Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Liberty with Kids that Have a Particular Background and Both a Common and Unique Background.  What might be true about flexible waist pants is NOT true about youth ministry (or any ministry); ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.  

I have been to Willow Creek and have seen how awesome they are at what they do, I have seen what Andy Stanley and Louie Giglio do at Northpoint Community Church, and I have witnessed the birth and spectacular growth of New Hope Church in Durham NC but I have to acknowledge that I am not those leaders and my church is not those churches.   I am not even close to their league as a leader (heck I don't have cool hair or play an instrument) and my church, well, let's say we try but we are not ready for prime time at this point.   

So, what is a volunteer youth guy suppose to do?  I only have so many hours in a week and I have a wife, 4 kids and I have to get my trail riding and running in or I am a bear to be around.   Sure, some of the curriculum is adaptable but most is way more complicated and frankly advanced than my group (or me?).    It is curious to me that most of the literature out there begins with programming and at the top of the programming list is providing good entertainment.   That is not us.  So, where to start?   I made a list of the areas that were in my skill set and decided to play off of them.  Your list is going to be different but let me suggest that you make this list so you have a road map to work off of as you and your group move forward. 

My list looked like this:

1. Community---I like people and I really like teenagers and I like talking and being active and hanging out (and I like wordy, run on sentences).   I decided that I would offer the kids a chance to hang out and to do things in a non competitive, non pressure environment.  This felt very much like my CPE training from seminary.  I would be present with the kids. 

2. Purpose----I will ask the kids, why we even need to be a group.  I have a personal purpose statement that directs me day to day.  Our group needs a purpose statement that belongs to the group and not to me.  I write "will ask" because I have not had this meeting yet.  I am kind of afraid.  What if they say, "You know what, we don't need a group, let's go tell our parents to never bring us again."  Fortunately, I am a volunteer.   I tend to think that God will show up at this meeting and the real reason that we are all together for such a time as this will become known.  When it does it will belong to all of us, not just me.  If something happens to me that purpose carries on. 

3.  Leadership Investment---I train leaders for a living.  I am a manager and do finance for both profit and not for profit organizations.  I am a ministry junkie so I need a means of getting my fix.  I do my paying job to support my ministry habit.   I know that the most effective way to grow any organization is to create a climate of leadership and to foster a growth mentality in everyone around you. This is not organizational growth but personal growth.    I also know that this is very difficult.  It is much easier just to do it yourself than it is to teach, train and discuss how to do it with someone else.  However, this group, my group, my church, has failed in the past because no one in charge took the time to develop other leaders.  Within the group of 10 kids we have now, 3 have identifiable leadership traits.  They don't know it yet but they are about to go to LEADERSHIP 101.   This way if I am removed they can lead the next adult, teach the purpose and involve them in the community that is being created.  

So, one size does not fit all.   I get that you might be able to find (or you can find) community, purpose and leadership development in a Google search but putting these ideas into practice is unique to our area and culture.