Over the last few years, one of the conversations that has come up again and again in youth ministry circles is about how we approach mission and service. Many of us grew up with a model that was driven by helping, rescuing or fixing. We went somewhere, did something for someone else, took a photo, and headed home feeling pretty good about ourselves. And while those intentions were usually kind and rooted in faith, we have learned that this model can also unintentionally cause harm, reinforce stereotypes or overlook the gifts and wisdom of the people we claim to serve.
The ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s Accompaniment Project was born out of a desire to shift that mindset. We want to encourage our leaders, congregations and young people to embrace a healthier and more faithful posture when engaging in mission and service. This project helps us understand what it means to walk with people rather than act for them. It helps us see that true mission is not about quick fixes. It is about relationships, humility, mutuality and shared transformation.
Accompaniment is not a new idea. It is deeply rooted in Scripture. Jesus consistently walked alongside people, asking them questions, listening to them and honoring their dignity. He never treated people as projects. He treated them as beloved children of God. That same spirit is at the heart of accompaniment. It is a commitment to be present, to listen deeply, to learn from others and to recognize that God is already at work long before we show up.
The Accompaniment Project gives us tools to practice this posture in real time. On our website you can find articles, videos, webinars and podcasts that unpack the theology of accompaniment and offer practical ways to bring it into your ministry. You will find wisdom from leaders who have been doing this work for decades, as well as voices from partners here in the United States and around the globe. There are stories of congregations who have reimagined their mission trips and service projects, and reflections from young people who discovered that the most meaningful part of their experience was not what they built or painted but the relationships they formed.
One of the things I appreciate most about accompaniment is that it slows us down. It invites us to step out of the mindset that productivity equals impact. Instead, we focus on presence. We learn to ask better questions. “What do you need?” becomes “What are you already doing that we can support?” “How can we fix this?” becomes “How can we walk alongside you as God leads?” That shift may feel small, but it changes everything.
Accompaniment also grounds us in humility. We admit that we do not have all the answers. We recognize that the communities we serve have incredible strengths and deep wisdom. When we show up not as saviors but as partners, the work becomes more sustainable and more faithful. And maybe most importantly, it becomes more honest.
This project is not just for groups planning a mission trip. It is for anyone who serves. It shapes how we think about partnerships in our own neighborhoods. It influences how we teach young people to see the world. It pushes us to grow in empathy, compassion and curiosity. And it reminds us that our goal is not to be heroes. Our goal is to be neighbors.
I would encourage you to explore the resources at www.elcaymnet.org/accompaniment. Share them with your teams, your councils and your youth. Use them as conversation starters. Let them challenge some of the assumptions you may have carried for a long time. The more our ministries embrace accompaniment, the more deeply we reflect the heart of Christ.
This project has been generously funded through a Faith and Service Grant from the TENx10 Collaboration at Fuller Theological Seminary, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.
Our hope is that this project will shape a generation of leaders who understand that mission is never about taking God somewhere. God is already there. Mission is about joining what God is doing, listening to the people who live the story every day and discovering that we are being changed right alongside them. When we walk together, everyone grows.
Network is a Verb 