Whatever teenagers are doing under the general sponsorship of a church is under the banner of youth ministry. Youth ministry is not a separate program in a church. It is the total of all the impact of all the work done by all the youth programs and emphases in a church. Thus, youth ministry is not a competitive, parallel program that demands time, energy and money. It depends on the mainline programs to make things happen.
Youth ministry is singular.
There is one youth ministry in a church. Youth ministry is both theological and organizational. It is organizational because it includes the work done with youth by many program organizations. It is theological because it represents the work done with teenagers within the body of Christ. A wholesome concept of youth ministry sees teenagers as full members of the church, ministers to them in that context and helps them find their place in that whole fellowship.