Date of Award

Fall 2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Committee Chair

Dale Lamb

Abstract

This mixed methods convergent study explored strategies for building consistency and sustainability in Baptist youth ministry programming, with a particular focus on the AFC Youth Ministry. Guided by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (Hitt et al., 2018) and Senge’s (2006) Systems Thinking approach, the study addressed three key research questions: What needs are youth seeking to meet that lead them to join a Baptist church youth ministry? What programming can AFC Baptist Church’s youth ministry provide to youth that would promote retention of the youth in the youth ministry? What are the best practices in delivering programming to youth in a Baptist church youth ministry? Quantitative data were collected through surveys of youth, parents, and church leaders, while qualitative data were gathered via interviews and open-ended survey responses. Findings revealed that consistent communication, structured leadership, mission-oriented activities, age-appropriate programming, and family engagement significantly contribute to program sustainability. The study highlighted the need for systems-based leadership models and developmental frameworks that address both the foundational needs of youth and the organizational dynamics of the church. Based on the study’s findings, eight targeted recommendations and a 3-year action plan were proposed to guide the AFC church leadership toward a more holistic and effective youth ministry. The research contributes to the limited body of scholarship on youth ministry in predominantly African American Baptist contexts and calls for further investigation into socioeconomic, spiritual, and structural factors influencing youth ministry involvement in the post-pandemic era.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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