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“How Do My Church Implement a “Daily Youth Devotion Program?”

 

As I watched an airing of 60 Minutes, my heart was filled with pain and a sense of sadness as they discussed the severity of the many mental health conditions affecting our youth in America. Unfortunately, they were not the first. I have noticed over the past weeks several news outlets and TV shows have been revealing the effects that the pandemic has had on millions of children. Those affected ranged in age from the very young, through college age. Let me also add to this conversation the mentioning of the increased suicides that have been shocking families all across the nation. No age has been exempted! Now I would like to say that none of those numbers reflect the Body of Christ, but I know I would be lying.

     As children of God, we are partakers of the redemptive blessings through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been given authority over all demonic forces that attempt to exercise its will over our families. We are not left without armor or the ability to overcome the onslaught of the enemy. The church as a whole, has seen and experienced a shifting in the Body of Christ. It is a must that as times change, that we too change our approach with our youth. In the past, churches did not encourage their parishioners (parents) to implement a daily routine of the Word of God, for they obtained their spiritual substances only from their local church. I submit to you that times have changed. If the church is going to bring spiritual stability to our youth, we must combat the mental attacks of the current day, and we must adjust. It is of importance that we meet the clarion call that we now follow Biblical instructions. 

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     Before the Children of Israel fell into disobedience, God gave them the formular on how to remain blessed (Deuteronomy 6:7). Got told them to teach their children daily. Why? So they would learn of Him early in their formative years and pass the truth to the next generation. These successful instructions from God have not changed. No longer does Sunday School, Sunday Worship, and Bible study meet the complete spiritual need of our day. In the parable of the unjust steward (Lk. 16:8), Jesus made a strong statement. He said, “So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.” Shrewd means “having or showing sharp powers of judgment; astute”. I believe what Jesus was saying is that the world adjusts according to the times as needed, but unfortunately, the sons of God tend to be reluctant to change. More apt to holding fast to traditional methods. 

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     Again, I submit to you Bishops, Pastors, youth leaders and parents. The only way to truthfully sustain the minds of our youth in our current day, is through a daily dose of the Word of God. The church does have the answer, and any other method is putting a band-aid on an open wound. Somebody may be asking, why must I push teaching the Word daily? Well, I’m glad you asked.  Let me start with social media is giving it out daily. The Muslims do it, Jehovah Witness, Christian Science, and other non-Christians do it.  So apparently, Satan himself knows daily teachings of anything works. On top of this, I can attest that God’s formular works, as I taught my own children five days a week for 21 years. 

The Lord has given me this assignment of preparing resources for the youth. Therefore, I will continue to drive this Godly principal method until the Body of Christ catches on. Daily Youth Devotion currently has over 100 Episodes of video Bible studies that provide the youth with 20 minutes a day of teaching. At www.dyd.today (programs) you will find the following topics:  The Basics of the Bible; In the Beginning; Noah and the Ark; The Falling Man and His New Condition; Cain and Abel; Abraham-the Father of Faith; and many more teachings. For years DYD Ministry has offered this resource to the youth for free. 

     Finally, our most recent addition to our ministry is “DYD Workbook Volume I ” (177 pages). I am very excited about this Workbook because the Workbook provides daily lessons, quizzes, and thought stimulators called “Something To Think About”. The Workbook is designed to reach all school aged youth (Elementary, Middle, High School and College). Remember the Bible is for all, and most often the youth are young in spiritual learning and need additional guidance. 

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Note : DYD Workbook II and III are COMING SOON! Sign up online for updates!

 

7 STEPS ON HOW TO GET STARTED

If you are a Pastor, youth leader, or parent that sees the need for change in our youth today, you understand that the church no long can sit on the sideline and watch the world draw in the minds of our youth without a spiritual fight. That we the church must do something different from the past to combat the mental attacks on our youth today. Below is a suggested method of moving your members forward into a daily learning for all your youth. This method helps parents be structured and accountable to their child’s growth. Many parents just need to be led to the water. The program established by your church will help parents accept the God given principle because you are their leader. (Prov.22:6 and Deut. 6:7)  

 

Method For Implementing a “Daily Youth Devotion Program” Into The Homes Of Your Members:

 

Step 1:  Assign a parent or someone that can commit to overseeing your church’s “Daily Youth Devotion Program”. This person should be one that understands the need of the Word in the lives of the youth. This would be a great job for someone that has children or has a gift working with the youth.  Maybe someone in your church that is a dedicated member that doesn’t already have a lot of roles in the church. DYD Workbooks are self-explanatory. The meetings can be done in person or over zoom, depending on what your church is most comfortable with; however, zoom can allow for more flexibility for all to attend. 

 

Step 2:  Have a meeting with all parents. Help them see the need for change and the importance of the Word in the lives of their children. The implementation of this type of program shows parents that your church cares about the youth’s well-being. Help them understand their participation is crucial and will not require much on the learning side. 

 

Step 3:  Make the DYD Workbook available to all youth. DYD’s target audience is all school aged youth. Therefore, every child should have their own Workbook, for the Workbook is designed to be interactive with the person reading it. Everyone should be given the opportunity to grow in God’s Word.

Start from the beginning, even if you think you may not need to. Understanding the Bible’s structure and organization is the foundation needed in order to succeed. You may be surprised what you learn or what you discover you have forgotten! 

 

Step 4:   Weekly assignments:  DYD is broken down into different sections called “Series”, and each series has multiple parts which contain the lessons. 

Assignment Suggestion 1. Using the DYD Workbook Only.

Assign the youth at least 2-4 lessons per week depending on their ages. When it is time for a quiz, just consider it to be one lesson. Example: 2 parts and the quiz to be completed that week. One quiz should be considered a lesson.

Assignment Suggestion: 2.  Using the DYD Workbook & On-line Videos.

Assign 2 lessons in the workbook and have them view the same 2 lessons from the on-line videos (www.dyd.today -program. Each student must sigh-up). This combination supports a deeper understanding of the lessons given. These assignments can be done within five days. Some of the quizzes are also done on video (different questions). 

•  There are several “Series” on the on-line videos such as:  Moral Standards, The Book of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges.

 

Group Suggestion 1:  If your church is large, this can be done in groups of similar age. 

Group Suggestion 2:  If smaller, you can work with all the youth at one time and let older or more advanced children work ahead. Giving the older youth different assignments.

Group Suggestion 3:  If your church has various ages, split into two groups.

Group 1-Grades K-5.Assign lessons according to their ability. The younger aged will require assistances from a parent until they develop in their reading skills.

Group 2-Grades 6-12. Assign lessons according to their ability. 

*Know that God works with each child individually according to their intellect. But insist that each child read their lesson 5 days a week, Monday-Friday. This creates a steady and daily routine. (Give two days of rest)

 

Step 5:  Encourage all parents to pick a dedicated time in the day that works best for their schedule and stick to it. Consistency is key in creating a routine. Most kids do homework after school every day, so ask parents to do the same for their spiritual learning. Mornings before school is generally the ideal time, for it helps them have a clear mind without demonic hinderances. 

 

ADVICE TO PARENTS: Have your child do their studies in your presence (living room, kitchen, open space, and not alone). This ensures they are doing the daily assignments. If possible, review your child’s quiz after they have completed it. Observe their answers. This will determine if they need help from the parent or reveal if the child is actually applying themselves. Remember the flesh is never a willing participant. Kids are no different, they would rather play games or watch something entertaining. Parents must see the bigger picture. (Additional tips for parents are on www.dyd.today website under program.)

 

Step 6: Establish a weekly follow-up with your youth.Follow-ups will be needed to create the new habit of reading the Word daily. Remember your youth are worth the time and investment. 

Have the overseer involve the other parents.This is a group effort, and ultimately the children’s success relies on their parents’ support. To avoid the overseer becoming tired over time, leadership should suggest parents take turns volunteering to do the zoom meetings as they become more familiar with the program. Having the parents involved allows for increased accountability. Create a monthly schedule.

What does follow-up look like? Select one day out of the week to have an in person or zoom meeting. Bible Study night would be a great night since it is already a part of everyone’s schedule, and DYD can be added as a supplemental study to any current materials you may be using. If not, choose a day close to the weekend or what works best for your congregation. 

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     *If you decided to follow “Group Suggestion 1 or 3” (from step 4), you may want to do half hour follow-ups, especially if one person is doing both age groups. Divided meetings ensure each child has a chance of keeping up in their follow-up meetings. 

•  *If doing “Group Suggestion 2” (grouping all the youth together), your meeting will need to be an hour. Try to make it no more than an hour to avoid being too demanding. 

At the meeting, first ask if everyone understood the week’s lessons or had any questions about the teachings. Briefly discuss the assigned lessons. Be led by the Holy Spirit on how to make the weekly follow-up sections interesting and worth the youth’s time. Be prepared and in control of your follow-up meetings. 

•  Have everyone complete the quiz before the meeting (if it was time for a quiz). Inquire how everyone did on their quiz. Discuss the “Something to think about” sections. Make it your own! Do what works best for your group.

 

Step 7:  Make it fun and make it important. Children need encouragement and praise to build confidence. Use the quizzes as part of a trivia game with individual competitors or teams. Host a “Bring a Buddy” night where children can bring a friend from outside of the church to sit in on a weekly meeting. Consider having a “graduation” ceremony when the Workbook is completed with simple certificates or prizes. Older youth can even be “promoted” to help instruct newcomers, and new classes can be added for Workbooks Volumes II and III as they are released. Celebrate their efforts but stress the importance of continuing with their studies – this is a marathon not a sprint, and spiritual growth never stops!

 

*** Establishing the “Daily Youth Devotion Program” in your church can also be a way to gain new membership. Ask each parent to invite someone they know to join the program. You will be surprised how that although some parents may not be born again, they do want their children to have knowledge about God.

 

* Remember to encourage families to watch the video lessons together at home to supplement the lessons in the Workbook. The videos elaborate on each lesson and can be especially helpful for busy households. Parents can sign up for FREE at www.dyd.today.