Chaplains and DRE's

This page was set up in a frequently asked question (FAQ) format. By clicking on the questions you are interested in you will move to a concise response. You may also elect to scroll down the page. Several answers include links to additional pages or worksheets that can be opened and then printed off using Adobe Acrobat. Additionally Chaplains or DRE's may desire to pose their own questions or responses utilizing the feed back link at the top of the page.

As you ponder these FAQ's consider these two lessons learned;
Whatever happens it will never go farther than the investment and accountability that begins locally in the vision, planning and efforts of adults.
Military teens are hungry for the Good News of Jesus Christ, and they will respond to caring, nurturing and authentic adults.

What are some "need to know" facts about military youth in order to set up a ministry?
What are the most common youth ministry options observed at a military installation?
What are the best three steps I could make to set up youth ministry on my installation successfully?
What is the best youth ministry model for a military installation, Para-church or denominational?
What will be my top challenges or short cut temptations?
What should I be looking for if I go down the road of a contracted youth director?
What are the financial considerations to beginning a youth ministry on a military installation?
What if I have a ministry center of Youth for Christ or Young Life in my town?
What are the differences between overseas and US ministries?

What are some "need to know" facts about military youth in order to set up a ministry?

90% of military students, ages 12-18, are in the U.S.
Of active duty students (age 12-18) over 270,000 live stateside and about 27,000 live overseas.
The majority of military installations use public schools located in the civilian community.
Outreach efforts to military students only exist in a very small percentage (7%), of US military installations.
Para-church organizations (YFC and YL) are currently within 50 miles of over half of the military installations located in the US.
Para-church organizations such as Youth for Christ are primarily located in public schools. Reference: www.mfrc-dodqol.org and the YFCMYM Brochure.
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What are the most common youth ministry options observed at a military installation?

There is not a lot of youth ministry going on at the chapel because the vision, people, and finances are not available.
Chapel and/or Community focused and Volunteer run. See Chapel Volunteers page. The key for making this effort successful is adequate support, training and guidance.
Chapel and/or Community focused and use contracted local hires or organizations to assist in your youth ministry efforts. The key for making this effort successful is adequate vision, investment, personnel mix and commitment to a long term presence and support.
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What are the best three steps I could make to set up youth ministry on my installation successfully?

My first suggestion would be to recruit from your adult circle of influence a steering group, that would eventually become a "support group" to assist you in preparing a community assessment and selecting a course of action. Sample: Community Assessment.
During the process of assessment and as your vision becomes more focused, appeal to command for the resources to adequately support your vision for ministry. This would include a salary package for staffing (if required), training for adults, and programming needs.
Develop a three year ministry vision with special attention to key transitions, benchmarks, goals and evaluations.
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What is the best youth ministry model for a military installation, Para-church or denominational?

This is a great question because it's important to start right. The complexities of ministry in the military do not really suit themselves to a single denominational model. Neither do Chapels! Here's an example; Many chaplains and DRE's come from a background where the individual who leads the youth ministry is referred to as a youth pastor. Just think about the challenges this mind set would bring up across the spectrum of chapel communities at your installation. The desire must be to start right with as few roadblocks as possible. For that reason the relational and multi-faceted aspects of Para-Church programming lends themselves more readily to youth ministry in the military. For a practical example see: A Paradigm for Youth Ministry in the Military. The emphasis on relationships within a Christ centered, safe and fun environment is the key for ministry within the pluralistic environment of the military.
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What will be my top challenges or short cut temptations?

Setting the foundation for a solid youth ministry that has a long term vision for presence and continuity. It will be much easier to gather 25-30 students and think the task is completed.
Short changing the chaplain/DRE, parent/adult or command process in a way that leaves key support systems behind, uncommitted and uninformed.
Borrowing a contract from a friend or another installation and then hiring someone to figure out how to get the ball rolling.
Trying to do too much with too little. It is so important that as chaplains and/or DRE's plan they understand larger installations with multiple chapels will look different than smaller "specialized" installations. Installations with several family serving chapels will need to look different than an installation with one chapel.
Trying to get started with the presumption that military families will know how to be involved and support a youth ministry.
Presuming you have trained adults who know what to do because they said they would be leaders.
Maintaining momentum after the launch of the ministry and during key chaplain and DRE transitions.
Not having a ministry plan that lays out reasonable direction and expectations and accounts for the bumps and turns that will come.
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What should I be looking for if I go down the road of a contracted youth director?

The bottom line is an individual who is passionate about their own faith and growth in Jesus Christ and has already demonstrated success in leading a youth program. The key is not military familiarity. Rather it is the individuals commitment to their own calling that will lead them, as a observer and learner, to embrace the youth vision for your installation.

I would insist upon seeing a resume with references. Have someone on your steering committee call the references and if warranted offer a personal interview.
Interview questions; Sample Interview Questionnaire (This is an adapted excerpt from a book Youth Ministry Management Tools; Olson, Elliot and Work. This is a reference that would help find the right person and organize the ministry as well.)
If the candidate is a member of an organization you will also need to gather information about how the organization operates. How they envision their role in supporting the staff person and expectations they might have from the community.
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What are the financial considerations to beginning a youth ministry on a military installation?

There are three dimensions to break out regarding this this question, costs related to staffing (if applicable), adult training and then programming.

Contracted Staffing: The basic principle involved in "contracting" out for youth ministry services is that the staff person should receive a fair compensation for the services expected. An independent and non-denominational youth magazine publisher, Group bi-annually provides an article with a youth ministry salary survey that could be helpful: 2005 Group Magazine Y outh Ministry Salary Survey as a starting place for planning purposes when estimating the cost of contracting these services. When contracting with youth organizations keep in mind that they will also require a percentage or service fee from the contract in the support of the staff person. The service fee can actually result in a staff person receiving from ten to twenty-five percent less than actually available from the contract. In many instances staff who arrive from youth serving organizations fund raise financial support as a missionary to supplement the resources they need for their salary package.
Volunteer Training: Chaplains and DRE's, please allow resources for training volunteers, see Chapel Volunteers. If all you can do is give a book, it's better than nothing. There are so many options each with a different cost level but even if you contract a staff person do not allow this area to become short changed. These volunteer men and women, and the students, will be so much better off with an intentional commitment to training and development. Please insist on a planned out volunteer training program regardless if you go with a contractor or not.
Student Programming: The cost of student ministry is always tied to the experiences you want your students to have. If your going to send your students on mission trips to foreign countries it just costs a lot of money. I realize there must be boundaries but having seen the benefits of seeing students investments I ask Chaplains, DRE's and parent to risk in this area. I put forth two examples of budgets in a article called; Financing your youth ministry Program, for consideration, Sample Budgets.
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What if I have a ministry center of Youth for Christ in my town?

This is the untapped opportunity in the United States. These organizations exist for outreach and have the right mindset to do so in a style of ministry that is well adapted for a military chapel situation. Para-church style ministry can reach across most congregations and the emphasis on personal relationships between committed Christian adults and students wherever they are in life will readily lend itself to the most needy student, the one who probably has no chapel or church affiliation. Because they are school centered they go where students are already congregated.

The real benefit of exploring this course of action is that in the instances where ministry centers and military installations are already co-located an office call or lunch is all it would take to look for places where the installation and ministry center could work together. Chaplains, DRE's and parents could visit what is already going for evaluation and applicability to their situation. YFC ministry centers exist for the purposes of Christian outreach to students but they can also have additional opportunities such as bible studies, camps, small group discipleship, special events, volunteer training etc... that could have expand benefits for a military community. One of the best parts is it wouldn't even have to start with a contract. It doesn't cost anything to make an appointment to see how working together for a common goal could go forward. At that point your only looking at what a win-win would look like. For additional information consider going to the YFC or YL web page (see our related links page) . Two other resources would be the YFCMYM Brochure or a paper titled Win-Win Work Sheet.
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What are the differences between overseas and US ministries?

Many chaplains and DRE's have experienced youth ministry overseas and then returned to the US and tried to replicate that ministry without the appropriate adjustments. Overseas and US ministry is just different! There are a number of contributing factors.

Overseas Ministry: Installations tend to be smaller, fewer chapels, a concentration of presence and support by the faith community, schools, housing and even the chapel is on the installation. There is usually no competition from other student outreach organizations. Basically your the only show in town. Staff members are often identification (ID) card holders and have a level of visibility in the military not available in CONUS. Contracted staff don't go to the installation commissary, exchange etc...

US Ministry: The complexities of youth ministry in the US are related to students identifying much less with their military identify. Installations just don't have the same feelings of "family." Additionally ministry will be impacted by the on going youth ministry efforts off the installation by churches and student outreach efforts in schools. Usually you will find that several of the families who may have chosen the chapel overseas now return to their own denomination. Also multiple schools and housing off base will be a factor in establishing your own youth ministry efforts.
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