In today's post, we're diving into the incredible impact of a local youth ministry that has seen 104 students come to Christ in just one year. What strategies fueled this amazing result, and how can we learn from their success? Watch the podcast here.

Tracking Spiritual Outcomes

One of the foundational elements that has made this ministry so successful is their commitment to tracking and celebrating spiritual outcomes. Under the leadership of Ryne, the ministry closely monitors biblical metrics, including gospel conversations and salvations. They've built a system where every gospel-sharing opportunity is marked by placing a ping pong ball in a cross-shaped display. White balls represent gospel conversations, and orange ones represent moments when a student places their faith in Christ.

It might seem trivial to some, but Ryne emphasizes the importance of data. "The Lord knows the heart, but we track this to celebrate what God is doing. We verify each decision by speaking directly with the students. If a kid comes up, we ask them to explain what they believe and why they want to trust Christ," Ryne shares. While they understand that not every decision can be perfectly verified, they do everything they can to ensure these metrics are as accurate as possible.

The Power of Relational Evangelism

A major key to this ministry’s success is relational evangelism—students are sharing the gospel with their friends before they even step foot into the youth group. Ryne notes that out of the 104 salvations, roughly 90% happened at a youth ministry event or program, but most of those students had been invited by a friend who had already started sharing the gospel with them.

The results are almost exponential. Students trust Christ, invite their friends, who then trust Christ the following week, and the cycle continues. It's a culture of discipleship in action. Ryne reflects, "We have kids come to youth group for the first time, trust Christ, bring friends the next week, and see their friends make the same decision. It’s a beautiful chain reaction of faith."

Rapid Growth and Strategy Adjustments

But with such rapid growth comes challenges. Ryne admits that the ministry faced hurdles in discipling all the new believers, particularly as the numbers climbed. "When you're seeing 15 to 20 kids trust Christ, you can manage the discipleship process. But when it’s over 100? You can’t do it all. That’s why we’re rethinking our approach to better equip our students to not just share the gospel but also to disciple their friends."

This learning curve highlighted a need for deeper training in discipleship, which Ryne admits was an area where they "failed" last year. They had trained students to share their faith but hadn’t done as well preparing them to disciple the friends they led to Christ. This shift in focus will be a major strategy moving forward.

Understanding Cultural Shifts

Ryne also touches on the cultural shift he’s seen in recent years, particularly among young people. "There was a time when what was done in secret was understood to be wrong. But we’ve shifted into a phase where what one generation tolerates, the next celebrates. We’re seeing students in a place where they don’t feel guilt about things that used to bring shame," Ryne observes.

This cultural backdrop makes the boldness of new believers even more remarkable. Despite the celebration of secular values, these students are courageously sharing their faith and seeing their friends come to Christ.

Looking Forward

With 104 salvations over the past 12 months, Ryne’s ministry is on track for even greater impact. They’ve seen 29 salvations in just the past two months, putting them on pace for 178 salvations by the end of the next school year. But Ryne remains grounded: "We’re just doing our best to share the gospel, disciple students, and trust God for the increase."

This ministry's story is a reminder that when we stay faithful to the call of evangelism and discipleship, God does incredible things. The focus on relational evangelism, tracking spiritual outcomes, and adapting strategies as growth occurs are all vital lessons for other ministries looking to make an eternal impact.

In youth ministry, spiritual multiplication has a remarkable ripple effect. For instance, Ryne, a youth leader, shared an inspiring story where one girl led her friend to Christ, who then led another, and the cycle continued. In fact, in the last 12 months, Ryne’s ministry has seen 104 salvations, including students leading their parents and siblings to faith.

What makes these numbers even more astounding is that Ryne’s church isn’t a megachurch—it has about 700 people on a Sunday. Yet, they’ve had 800+ gospel conversations, resulting in an incredible impact. Not all gospel conversations lead directly to salvation, but many are seeds planted long before someone joins the ministry or even accepts Christ.

So, what’s their approach? It’s simple: share the gospel every time they meet and give an invitation. Ryne acknowledges that some students might grow weary of hearing the gospel repeatedly, but that’s okay. Out of the 104 salvations, they are actively discipling about 38 of those individuals weekly. This number fluctuates because some students have challenging home environments, making spiritual growth a bit slower.

One of the core principles Ryne’s team teaches is that every message is a gospel message. Whether it’s about friendship or any other topic, it ultimately ties back to sin being the problem and Jesus being the solution. This consistent framing ensures that the invitation to Christ is always on the table.

To make sure the gospel message sticks, they employ a multi-layered approach. First, when a new student checks in, a leader shares the gospel. Then, students practice sharing it before the message, and finally, there’s a formal invitation after the message. This method ensures that every student has heard the gospel multiple times from various sources.

Measuring success isn’t just about numbers for Ryne’s team; they set specific goals, such as sharing the gospel 500 times in a year, and they surpassed that by reaching 584. They prayed for 50 people to come to Christ and saw 82 salvations. This year, they aim to share the gospel 2,000 times and are praying for 100 people to trust Christ.

But what about discipleship? Ryne acknowledges that last year, they didn’t do enough to train students to disciple others after leading them to Christ. Now, their focus has shifted. Every student who trusts Christ receives a Bible and a new believer workbook. They are also taught the importance of staying connected with God's Word and the church.

Ryne’s ministry places the responsibility of discipleship on the students who led others to Christ. This model mirrors biblical discipleship, where those who lead others to faith are also expected to help them grow. The ministry provides resources and support, but ultimately, they empower students to carry the weight of discipling their peers.

This approach has led to an interesting dynamic: some new believers are outpacing their peers in discipleship. Ryne shared stories where students who were just led to Christ have now brought more people to faith than those who led them. This non-linear growth reflects the unpredictability of spiritual journeys, but it also highlights the power of boldness and obedience.

In youth ministry, success isn’t always measured by how many students you retain, but by how faithfully you share the gospel and disciple those who respond. Ryne’s team has built a culture of gospel-sharing, discipling, and spiritual multiplication that’s transforming lives, one conversation at a time.

Maximizing Impact in Youth Ministry: Sharing the Gospel in a Broken World

In today’s culture, sharing the gospel effectively means understanding the deep brokenness many young people experience. Ryne, a youth pastor, highlights this shift, emphasizing how his ministry connects with students who aren’t coming from picture-perfect families or "traditional" church backgrounds. Instead, many are dealing with immense personal struggles like family instability, substance abuse, or mental health crises. The beauty of the gospel becomes clear to these students not by pointing to their guilt, but by helping them recognize the brokenness around and within them.

Recognizing the Brokenness
Today's youth are navigating a world that is far from perfect. Whether it's family dysfunction, mental health struggles, or societal issues, many young people are deeply aware of the brokenness around them. Ryne shares that by acknowledging this brokenness, students more easily connect to the need for a Savior. They’re not being asked to feel guilt for traditional "church" sins but are shown how humanity's collective brokenness points to a deeper need for redemption through Jesus.

Rather than focusing on sin from the standpoint of guilt and shame, the approach shifts to how sin leads to brokenness and how each of us plays a role in contributing to that. This, in turn, opens the door for sharing the hope found in Jesus, who is the only answer to this brokenness. It’s a refreshing and effective method for youth ministry in a world that celebrates things once considered wrong, helping students see that their struggles are part of a greater spiritual battle.

Adjusting the Approach Without Changing the Message
The core of the gospel remains the same: we are separated from God by sin, but through Jesus, we have hope for eternal life. What Ryne and his team have found is that adjusting how the gospel is presented—particularly by leading with the reality of brokenness—has resonated powerfully with students. Once they see how broken their world is, they are open to the message of healing and restoration in Jesus.

In a world where guilt and shame are often rejected, and sin is sometimes celebrated, students need to understand how their personal and communal brokenness reveals the need for salvation. This shift in presentation is key to connecting with today’s youth in a way that feels relevant and truthful.

Consistency and Compassion Over Time
One major theme Ryne emphasizes is consistency. In youth ministry, building trust takes time, especially if the students have been hurt by previous leaders or church failures. Being a model of integrity, showing up, and maintaining clear boundaries are crucial. Trust is earned over time, not overnight.

When students or leaders experience moral failures in the church, the temptation is to avoid talking about it, but Ryne encourages addressing the elephant in the room—without gossip—so students can process their feelings and reconnect to their faith. These moments of transparency can actually help students place their trust not in fallible human leaders, but in Jesus, who is steadfast and unchanging.

Strategic Evangelism
As leaders, it’s vital to keep the focus on the gospel. One piece of advice Ryne gives is to stay creative in how the message is shared but never change the message itself. Be willing to meet students where they are emotionally and spiritually, recognizing that some may be "bored" with programming or distant due to personal hurt.

The key is to focus on transformation, not entertainment. Spiritual growth should remain at the forefront, and that requires a youth ministry that is prepared to be a "hospital" for hurting souls, offering the gospel repeatedly, even in difficult circumstances. Ryne reminds leaders that it’s not about trying to entertain students, but about keeping Christ at the center, even when they feel disconnected.

Youth Ministry: A Community Effort
For youth leaders looking to maximize their impact, Ryne offers an invitation to connect. Whether you’re struggling with challenges in your ministry or just looking to grow, there are resources and communities available. One resource Ryne mentions is a new community group where youth pastors can connect, share insights, and learn best practices.

Ministry is a journey, and no one has "arrived." Learning from one another, being transparent about struggles, and staying committed to Christ are what will truly shape the future of youth ministry.

In conclusion, Ryne’s message is one of hope, consistency, and strategic engagement with students. As youth leaders, the challenge is to stay faithful, get creative, and keep Christ central in all that we do, trusting that God is always at work—even when the world around us feels broken beyond repair.