The Salvation Army National Youth Strategy - March 2015
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The Salvation Army
National Youth Strategy
March 2015
THE SALVATION ARMY NEW ZEALAND,
FIJI & TONGA TERRITORY
Introduction
Background The Need for an Integrated Strategy
Numerous youth strategic plans have been We have no common vision for youth ministries
developed in the past, focusing on the across New Zealand.
Territorial Youth Mission Department Youth services are typically being provided
supporting corps-based youth ministries. within service stream silos, with minimal
The need for a National Youth Strategy, sharing of expertise, duplicated effort and
incorporating all Salvation Army youth services inconsistent services. More could be achieved
was identified in 2009. working together.
Dr Greg Coyle prepared a discussion paper in An integrated strategy and nationalised service
2010 which was distributed amongst Quality would better place The Salvation Army to
Improvement Working Party (QIWP) members secure Government funding and so financially
and other representatives for comment. strengthen youth work.
Progress stalled until 2014 when a new working Research suggests that churches are losing 65-
group was established to complete this work 90% of their young people by the age of 231.
and develop an integrated youth ministry Society is changing. Are we still offering the
strategy. services youth require?
We can do better for our youth.
1 Young Adults in New Zealand Baptist Churches Research Report, Nigel Cottle, 2009
2
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION
Introduction
Scope
This document presents a strategy for the next
3-5 years for Salvation Army youth work across
New Zealand. A strategy for Fiji and Tonga is to
be completed separately.
The focus is on our ministry for youth (12-24) –
with emphasis on 13-18 year olds. There is a
crossover with our separate children’s ministry
and young adults strategies.
The strategy incorporates all Salvation Army
ministries targeting youth, including:
Corps-based youth work
Community Ministries youth work and
youth services
Education & Employment youth
programmes
Supported accommodation and Alcohol and
Other Drug addiction treatment services for
youth.
This document uses the term ‘faith community’ as a
generic term for a group of believers, such as a
corps, plant, recovery church, messy church,
second congregation or home group.
3
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION
Current Situation
4
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION
Current Situation – Services Provided
Youth leaders: Youth services provided:
The Salvation Army employs approximately 75 Youth discipleship
people to work specifically with youth. Of these Youth groups
(note: individuals often work in multiple
Education and employment services
services):
Alcohol and other drug (AOD) services
23 work in churches (an additional 26 churches
have volunteer youth ministry leaders) Gambling addiction services
40 work in Community Youth Services Chaplaincy, mentoring, youth development
30 work in Education & Employment or Advocacy
Addictions services. Early intervention
Youth: Life skills, Positive Lifestyle Programme (PLP)
Together they work with: Activity based learning (including our Blue
1000 youth in church based ministries, Mountain Adventure Centre)
across 81 churches Accommodation
600 youth in Education and Employment Community meals
services, across 14 locations Community development
1000 youth in community based youth services Family support programmes
200 people aged under 20 assisted by our Leadership development
Addictions services in 2014
Youth worker training
100 youth in supported accommodation.
5
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION
Current Environment – PEST Analysis
PP olitical Environment EE conomic Environment
In 2014, The National Government started its The New Zealand economy entered recession in
third term. Some of their stated priorities will early 2008, exacerbated by the Global Financial
have a significant impact on youth 1 : Crisis that set in later that year 2, resulting in
higher unemployment, financial pressure on
“Increasing the proportion of 18 year olds with many families, and less money available for
NCEA level 2” – highlights a focus on education Salvation Army support services.
over employment for under 18s. New Zealand has a relatively high gap between
“Reducing the number of young people on a rich and poor, ranked 9th worst in the OECD.
benefit by 40% by 2017” and “more intensive Adult unemployment is holding at around 5%,
management of young people on benefits”– but unemployment rates for 15-19 year olds,
will provide more wrap-around support but also while improving, is much higher at 19.3% (Sep
make it increasingly difficult for youth to obtain 2014, Statistics NZ). Some of the explanations
a benefit. for this include:
No separate minimal youth wage
“Reintroducing the youth wage” – has the
More people of retirement age working
possibility of both reducing youth
unemployment and increasing youth Record numbers of youth from overseas on
employment abuse. working holidays or studying in New
Zealand 3
90 day work trials.
The average student loan on leaving study
continues to rise, up to $16,900 in 2012 14.
1 www.national.org.nz/policies
2 Treasury Report (http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/overview/2014/05.htm)
3 http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11290777.
4 Statistics New Zealand – Student Loans and Allowances: 2013 tables 6
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONCurrent Environment – PEST Analysis
SS ocial Progress in NCEA achievement is stalling for Māori
New Zealand has more than 200 ethnicities, and the secondary school students and students at lower
growing Asian and Indian communities will likely out decile schools 4.
number Māori by 2027 1. This is leading to more Many would claim that youth are growing up
subcultures and an increase in ethnic-based youth within a culture of entitlement, leading to
gangs, while New Zealand European kids often feel unrealistic expectations.
they have no culture. Auckland’s rapid growth is creating issues unique
In general, people are staying in education longer, to Auckland and a growing sense of animosity from
and having families later. the rest of New Zealand.
While a couple with children is still the most
common type of family (41.3%), an increasing
number of children are growing up in alternative
T echnological T
family structures 2. New Zealand is becoming an increasingly
technological society, with 70% of New Zealanders
Youth are facing increased pressure and more liberal aged 15–65 now owning a smart phone, and this is
attitudes, leading to an increase in issues related to expected to increase to 90% by 2017. The main use
alcohol and other drugs, relationships and sexual is mobile media, social networking, online
health. The youth suicide rate in 2011 was the second shopping, video and music access 5.
highest in the OECD .3
Technology has made it easier to connect with
In 2013, New Zealand had its lowest teenage people socially, but high level engagement in social
pregnancy rate in 22 years. This might indicate networking can separate people from real social
changes in behaviour, attitudes or medical practice 4. interaction and distract them from study.
General & violent offending by young people has New Zealanders spent more than $300 million on
declined sharply since 2008/09. BUT young Māori games in 2013. Gaming is increasingly being used
are much more likely to be apprehended & for training and directing behaviour 6.
prosecuted for an offence for non-Māori youth . 4
1 http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_projections/ NationalEthnicPopulationProjections_HOTP2006-26.aspx
2 http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/qstats-families-households/overview-families.aspx
3 http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/mental-health-and-addictions/suicide-prevention/suicide-rates-new-zealand
4 The Salvation Army State of the Nation Report, A Mountain all can Climb, 2015
5 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1312/S00422/nz-will-have-90-smartphone-and-78-tablet-ownership-by-2018.htm
7
6 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1402/S00420/digital-consumption-fuels-nz-video-game-industry-growth.htm DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONCurrent Situation – Youth Trends
Based on the PEST analysis and experience, we have identified the following general trends regarding
New Zealand youth:
Youth of today have enormous capacity to make a On the other hand:
positive difference in the world. Youth need a sense of “personal significance”,
They will have more formal education than any but often feel undervalued and voiceless. This is
previous generation one driver for our high rates of youth suicide.
They have unprecedented access to a global Youth need a sense of belonging, yet often feel
world, through the advances in technology disconnected from adult society.
Ability to connect with others through Youth often have unrealistic expectations,
social media especially around work, future income and
Access to instant global information from standards of living, resulting in debt and
anywhere disappointment. Many youth will struggle to
find employment.
Second nature to express their concerns
and ideas through social media Youth face extreme peer pressure, especially in
the form of alcohol and other drugs, anti-social
They can be disaffected with the capitalism and
behaviour and sexual activity.
greed they see around them, which drives them
toward being more socially and Youth live in an increasingly secular society and
environmentally responsible. fail to realise that a relationship with Jesus and
involvement in a faith community can resolve
these issues.
8
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONCurrent Situation – Youth Services SWOT Analysis
Strengths Weaknesses
• Faith based services • Silos; lack of coordination across services
• Salvationist and Christian employees • Corps lacking community impact and community
• High standard of specialist youth services services lacking faith impact
• Access to a range of support services • Discipleship training
• Heritage and reputation • Coaching and mentoring of youth workers in
• Solid organisational financial resources corps
• Safe practice • Training for corps-based youth leaders
• Good Ministry of Social Development relationships • Not all corps have the same standards
• Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit • Not strong where Government wants providers
• Firezone website • The Salvation Army is perceived as risk averse
• 33 corps/plants are rated as having good or • Remuneration for youth workers with families
excellent youth ministries • Lack of longevity of youth workers
• 48 corps/plants rated as struggling or no youth
Opportunities
ministries
• Access Government funding through coordinated • Youth ministries often first cut when facing
and consistent services financial constraints
• Make more use of our support services • Lack of Māori youth workers
• Connect with Māori and Pasifika, especially those
Threats
accessing our social services
• Develop youth missional leadership stream • Losing youth leaders and workers (e.g. to other
• Encourage innovation churches, other vocations, officership)
• Train up – help senior leaders understand modern • Reliance on Government funding; potential
community based youth work future conflict with Government not supporting
• Identify and report on measures that highlight the faith based offerings
effectiveness of youth work • Internal competition for funding with other
• Ensure youth work practice is being monitored services 910 DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION
Our Response
11
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONVision and Values
Our vision is expressed as: In achieving this vision, we will not compromise on
our values – that our youth services:
The Salvation Army inspires and equips youth Are faith based and work best out of a faith
to follow God, connect well with others, find community.
personal significance, and make a positive Focus on relationship building within
difference in their world community.
Have trained and qualified youth workers; safe
Inspires and equips – through building practice.
relationships, role modelling and training.
Partner with specialists (e.g. AOD, Education &
To follow God – making and growing disciples. Employment, Supportive Accommodation,
To connect well with others – healthy positive Counselling and external providers).
relationships, emotional maturity. Uphold the Treaty of Waitangi.
To find personal significance – through a Recognise the role of parents and families in
relationship with God and following His the development of the young person.
purpose for your life.
Are good stewards.
To make a positive difference in their world –
active citizens, modelling the values of the
Kingdom of God.
12
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONMission
Youth Ministries are an integral part of the mission Reforming society
of The Salvation Army – caring for people, Providing opportunities for youth to serve
transforming lives and reforming society, by God’s others and fight for justice
power.
Working closely with other agencies
Caring for people
Active in community groups.
Ensuring youth feel they belong, are
By God’s power
listened to and valued
A reliance on prayer and desire to worship.
Providing access to support services as
needed (e.g. advocacy, social support,
accommodation).
Transforming lives
Helping youth develop the capacity to
address their concerns
Education, employment, addictions
treatment, life skills, resilience.
Helping youth progress in their faith journey
Teaching youth they are loved by God
Linking to faith communities
Discipling youth.
13
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONStrategy
In developing a strategy for youth ministry within SIX PRINCIPLES OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
The Salvation Army, we started by looking at some Positive youth development:
of the considerable research conducted into youth
1. Is shaped by the ‘big picture’: the values and
development.
beliefs systems within which youth grow up.
Two theories in particular have been chosen as
2. Is about youth being connected: having
fundamental to this strategy:
positive connections with others in society.
3. Is a consistent strengths-based approach:
1. The Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa building on youth’s capacity to resist risk
(2002): prepared by the Ministry of Youth factors and enhance protective factors in their
Affairs who identified six principles of youth lives.
development (see opposite). It is easy to see
4. Happens through quality relationships.
how The Salvation Army is well-placed to meet
these principles. 5. Is triggered when youth fully participate:
need opportunities to actively participate and
engage.
2. Circle of Courage: a model of positive youth
6. Needs good information: any strategy needs
development that helps build resilience and
to be evidence-based.
self-esteem among youth.
Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa, 2002
14
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONCircle of Courage
The Circle of Courage is a strengths based When youth feel they belong, develop
approach to youth development, developed by competence, make good decisions (based on
Martin Brokenleg and Larry Brendtro. Christian values), and choose to help others,
They studied how traditional indigenous cultures underpinned by a solid faith in Jesus, they will
were able to raise respectful, responsible children thrive and grow.
without resorting to coercive discipline and
identified four essential human needs.
Generosity / Contribution
These needs have been validated by contemporary
“I have a purpose for my life”
research and the model
Atawhai
is in widespread use across the world.
These basic needs fit well within a
faith community:
Independence /
Belonging (John 1:12) Belonging
Responsibility
Mastery (Col 3:23-24, Prov 22:29) “I have the power to
/ Identity
make decisions” “I am loved”
Independence (Gal 6:4-5) and Whanāu
Mana Motuhake
Generosity (Matt 22:39).
Mastery / Competence
“I can succeed”
Pukengatanga
15
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONApplying the Key Principles
All services need to help youth: “Young people grow to maturity by being around those
1. Progress in their faith journey: people who have such maturity themselves.”Margaret Mead
Help youth discover a life changing 3. Participate actively:
relationship with Jesus. Provide opportunities to actively participate
Equip youth with good decision making and engage.
skills by modelling and training Christian Give responsibility.
values.
4. Offer opportunities to develop and serve:
Grow dynamic disciples.
Help youth to identify and develop their
2. Develop significant relationships: strengths.
Within community, in a welcoming place Give them opportunities to succeed.
that is safe and secure. Encourage and affirm their development.
Connect youth in positive relationships with Recognise milestones.
other youth. Provide opportunities for youth to serve
Develop intergenerational relationships. God and others in satisfying ways.
Provide at least one significant adult 5. Access services:
relationship (e.g. a mentor).
Provide access to relevant support services.
Strengthen relationships in the home.
Support and encourage parents.
“The strongest predictor of resilience was an adult mentor outside the immediate family – grandmother,
minister for example – who gave them a sense of being loved and important.” Emmy E Werner
16
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONApplying the Key Principles
FAITH PROGRESS
• Exposure to • Link to faith • Christian • Dynamic
gospel community values discipleship
SIGNIFICANT SERVICE AND RESOURCING /
PARTICIPATION
RELATIONSHIPS • Belonging STRENGTHS CONNECTION
• Within community • Active participation • Identify and develop • Access to relevant
• Positive peers • Developing skills strengths support services
• Intergenerational, and • Taking responsibility • Serve God and others
at least one significant in meaningful ways
adult
• At home
The key principles can be
thought of as four pillars
covered by an umbrella of faith.
17
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONKey Strategic Issues for The Salvation Army
1. Youth leaders (attracting and retaining, 7. Retaining youth as they transition from
training, remuneration, career progression, children’s ministries, and again when leaving
youth pastor or youth worker, call to high school.
officership). 8. Growing our service reputation (maintaining a
consistency of service while incorporating
2. How to organise ourselves (nationally volunteers; best practice but driven by
managed programmes and divisions versus a Christian mission and values; marketing).
national youth team; ability to deliver
9. Sustainability (on-going financial support,
nationalised services; bureaucracy). reliance on Government funding).
3. How to raise the passionate spirituality of our 10. Embracing diversity (Māori and Pasifika,
youth (discipleship, Biblical literacy, special needs, Fiji, Tonga) and the Treaty of
understanding of what they believe and the Waitangi.
distinctives of The Salvation Army). 11. Connecting services and sharing expertise
4. How to provide welcoming, relevant faith (especially corps, community ministries,
communities (some are unwelcoming, have addictions, parenting, budgeting, external
negative perceptions of youth and lack agencies).
intergenerational relationships). 12. Working towards all faith communities being
involved in their community, and all
5. How to plant faith seeds and help youth community services coming out of a faith
transition from receiving social services to community.
joining a faith community.
13. A desire for innovation within an organisation
6. Perceived low importance of youth ministries, culture that is largely risk averse.
and event planning being more tangible than
relationship building.
18
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONStrategic Goals
1. Make, grow & retain youth disciples
2. Recruit, develop & retain youth leaders
3. Offer consistent and well-resourced
services
4. Work together
These strategic goals tie in closely with The
Salvation Army’s Territorial Strategic Mission Plan
(TSMP):
19
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONGoal 1: Make, Grow & Retain Youth Disciples
Objective Focus areas / actions
To grow dynamic youth disciples who are 1. Develop and implement a clear youth
totally committed to following Jesus within The discipleship training strategy. Use technology
Salvation Army – risk taking, incarnational and to support its implementation.
committed to the salvation of the lost. 2. Encourage radical discipleship, outworked as a
soldier in The Salvation Army.
3. Build intergenerational faith communities that
Issues
are relevant to youth, by promoting:
A perceived lack of passionate spirituality and 1. The criticality of youth ministries
wonder at the gospel amongst some of our 2. How to be a welcoming community
youth. 3. Intergenerational worship
A general lack of Biblical knowledge, a Biblical 4. Adults developing significant relationships
worldview and knowledge of Salvation Army with youth
doctrine. 5. Supporting youth as they transition to and
We are losing a large percentage of our youth
from high school.
4. Work with parents as primary caregivers.
Some are losing their faith
5. Engage youth in service opportunities.
Some are going to other churches, which 6. Work with Māori and Pasifika ministries to
leaves a hole in the corps. develop a plan for improving our work with
A lack of desire to share the gospel in many of Māori and Pasifika youth and their whanāu.
our social services (and corps). 7. Ensure all youth services are linked to or come
out of a faith community; then inspire and
resource to plant faith seeds in the youth they
are working with.
20
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONGoal 2: Recruit, Develop and Retain Youth Leaders
Objectives Focus areas / actions
Ensure every youth service have trained, 1. Develop organisation-wide youth worker
competent youth leaders. career pathway.
Retain our experienced youth leaders. 2. Address remuneration.
3. Re-introduce training programme for corps-
Issues based youth workers and volunteers.
Retention 4. Review the Youth Work Apprenticeship
scheme to ensure it is producing the youth
Remuneration
workers The Salvation Army needs.
Lack of progression
5. Understand and resolve youth worker
Call to Officership frustrations and provide opportunities to
Love The Salvation Army but find it difficult activate change.
to find appropriate spaces to voice their 6. Inspire leaders to lead differently. Encourage
concerns. innovation.
Training 7. Promote Academic Scholarships and Mission
Lack of training for volunteers and corps- Leader Scholarships.
based youth workers 8. Develop missional leadership training.
Poor perception of Youth Work 9. Support youth leaders in starting new faith
Apprenticeship Scheme (LAB programme). communities.
21
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONGoal 3: Offer Consistent and Well-resourced Services
Objective Focus areas / actions
Provide consistent, high quality services that 1. Ensure all services are linked to a faith
can be funded and replicated around the community.
country. 2. Modify the way we organise ourselves to ensure
consistent policy and guidelines, and the regular
sharing of information between services.
Issues Explore possibilities to hear youth voices at all
A wide range of services are being offered at levels.
different standards. 3. Expand the role of QIWP to include all youth
We reinvent programmes instead of re-using services.
what we already do. 4. Develop service packages (like Aspire) for re-use
around country and develop marketing around
While we have corps in most major centres, we
these packages.
have limited youth services, and many of these
5. Seek additional funding for package delivery.
are struggling.
6. Provide training and support to corps to
We are missing out on Government funding. mobilise leaders and youth to serve their
We are not making the most of our in-house community in a manner consistent with our
expertise and experience. professional services.
Our reputation does not reflect the excellent 7. Ensure all youth workers are being supported
youth services we provide. and monitored by a qualified youth professional.
8. Assign responsibility to a dedicated resource to
pursue contracts and funding opportunities that
will enhance our mission.
22
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONGoal 4: Work Together
Objectives Focus areas / actions
Achieve synergies for mission. 1. Define our strategy for planting faith seeds
Work in partnership with other organisations. with youth receiving social services and linking
them to a faith community.
Better support youth as they transition from
children, through their teenage years and on 2. Review the chaplaincy function effectiveness
into adulthood. and consider other models of care.
Issues 3. Develop a tighter link between youth services
by establishing regular communication
Silo mentality
mechanisms (Corps, CM, E&E, chaplains,
Lack of integration mentoring). Expand role of QIWP to include all
Corps not active in community youth services.
Services not making the most of specialists 4. Establish links with support services (e.g. AOD,
in other services. counselling, anger management, education &
Chaplaincy service not always effective. employment, external agencies).
We are struggling to progress youth from 5. Pilot a fully integrated youth service (faith
receiving social services to joining a faith community, community ministries, E&E and
community. AOD) and capture key learnings for potential
future services.
We are losing youth when they start and leave
high school.
23
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONAction Plan
Goal 2015 2016 / 2017 Ongoing
1. Disciples o Share youth strategy with o Complete youth discipleship o Quarterly communication
corps & centres resources to officers and youth
o Develop youth discipleship o Develop youth discipleship workers
strategy app(lication) o All services linked to a
o Develop Māori & Pasifika plan o Implement Māori & Pasifika plan faith community
2. Leaders o Youth worker career pathway o Reintroduce corps based youth o Promote academic and
o Address remuneration work training mission leader
o Review Youth Work o Implement Youth Work scholarships
Apprenticeship scheme Apprenticeship Scheme
o Provide space for youth recommendations
workers to activate change
o Develop missional leader
training and encourage young
leaders to attend
3. o Review how we organise o Develop service packages o All services linked to a
Consistent ourselves o Seek additional funding for faith community
Services o Expand QIWP service packages
o Rollout Aspire o Train corps in community work
4. Work o Strategy for linking social o Establish a relationship with o Regular communication
together service clients to faith another two youth service between services at all
communities organisations levels
o Review chaplaincy o Pilot a fully-integrated youth o Link with support
service services
24Reflection
Service Reflection Personal Reflection
How would a young person learn about God How much do you know about the youth you
and progress in their faith journey within your come in contact with? Do you know the names
service? of the youth who live in your street? How well
What ‘voice’ do you give youth? Can they do you know the youth in your faith
influence decisions that affect them? community? Do you regularly engage them in
conversation?
How do you connect youth with adults in
meaningful relationships? Are you a significant adult in the lives of youth
within your circle of social contact?
What opportunities do you provide for youth to
serve others in a meaningful way? How can you use the circle of courage as the
basis to help youth belong, develop, take
What milestones do you celebrate? How do
responsibility and serve others?
you recognise and celebrate success?
How do you connect with other
services in your area?
“We don’t teach a kid how to become resilient. We surround them with social support and a loving
and caring environment, we learn their names and greet them personally taking a few moments to
talk one on one, and we develop enduring relationships with them” It Takes a Church, page 4
25
DRAFT FOR CONSULTATIONFor more information, please contact:
Mail
Territorial Youth Department
The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters
PO Box 6015, Marion Square
Wellington 6141
Phone
(04) 382 0725
Email
youth_mission_team@nzf.salvationarmy.org
THE SALVATION ARMY
Web NEW ZEALAND, FIJI & TONGA
www.firezone.co.nz TERRITORYYou can also read
