Why everybody? Because those who do not want to be trained will eliminate themselves. So, you train everybody; and when I say everybody, I mean every student, volunteer, parent, and most of all yourself!

First and foremost, you must believe that for you to succeed, others must succeed. I know in my heart that my success comes from leading others and then teaching them to lead, as we work together in youth ministry!

Until just about two years ago, I had called this strategy just “discipleship, ” based on The Great Commission:

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20, NASB).

But now I call the strategy “2 x 4 Ministry”! It is based on the fact that every believer has a privilege and duty to be an evangelist and a disciple. Therefore every youth ministry should be TO students, BY students, and FOR students!

Why? Because our future is the students. They are the youth, civic, business, and community leaders of tomorrow, as well as potential leaders in church, school, and community today.

How do they learn to lead? They learn by doing. So, why not allow them to learn to do ministry by leading and doing anything and everything they possibly can while we invite, help, and encourage them to do all they can? Our commission is to “make disciples” and “teach.”

A tried-and-true way to learn is very simple:
I show you how to do it;
we do it together;
you do it.

What if all the students we can touch got fired up because they were involved in a ministry that is not only relevant but also encourages them to take ownership and leadership?

I know that if I work from the attitude that “for me to succeed, others must succeed” and if I practice philosophies of 2 x 4 Youth Ministry, I see that kind of excitement in my students.

“2 x 4: To students, by students, for students” helps us fulfill Jesus’ Great Commission, making disciples and teaching them!