Last updated May 13, 2020

COVID-19 & Churches: Youth Ministry

The Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary

Youth Ministry in a Pandemic offers content and links that provide guidance, ideas, research, and insight for those who minister with young people in an unprecedented cultural moment. The eight content areas are Theological Reflection, Mental Health Support, Digital Gatherings, Spiritual Formation, Leading while Learning, Worship & Liturgy, the New Normal- moving into the next phase, and “the Covid Summer.”

Paul and Angela Gorrel

Guide to Taking Youth Ministry Online offers detailed information and discussion starters on contemporary concerns of youth which have been heightened by the COVID-19 crisis. These concerns include disappointment, anxiety, loneliness, fear of rejection, pain, jealousy, shame, fear of failure, and anger. The guide also covers the Fruit of the Spirit. It explains how to survey one’s youth group on access to tech devices and tech skills with various tools and platforms. Other topics include small groups, ideas to get youth talking, prayer, Scripture reading, art, using technology to create community and resources on using the various social media platforms. Angela Gorrell is the author of Always On: Faith in a New Media Landscape.

Youthscape Resources

Coronavirus: A youth ministry liveblog. This website from England is a regularly-updated hub dedicated to helping youth leaders respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Youthscape offers Together Apart a short series of curriculum resources enabling you to explore life and faith with young people. It is designed specifically for use in the context of an online youth work session. Free download.

Search Institute

If you take a look at the Search Institute Relationships Check, you may be able to see where your relationships with important young people in your life are particularly strong and where they can grow. If you answer the questions, you’ll receive actionable approaches and activities to strengthen relationships with young people in your life.

Download Youth Ministry (DYM)

Free youth ministry ideas & downloadable resources in the time of COVID-19

Fuller Youth Institute

Doing Youth Ministry During a Pandemic - Steve Argue

Navigating New Territory: Moving Ministry Online - Lisa Hanle

Naming Loss and Gratitude with Young People in these Uncertain Days - Brad Griffin

Urban Youth Workers Institute

6 Creative Ways to Engage Youth During Social Distancing - Susan Delano

Includes rap video “Corona Clap” by Dee-1.

National Network of Youth Ministries

Several useful blog posts for this time of crisis

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