Where Do We Go From Here?

Posted on September 8th, 2004 by hanfaith.
Categories: Deep Thoughts.

For the month of August, Philip and I took a break from leading youth group. The main reason was obviously the impending birth of our second baby, but we also needed the time to evaluate and plan for the year to come.

One of the materials that we regularly read is Youthworker Journal - a bimonthly publication. But the one that arrived at the end of August was the most frustrating to date. Youthworker is not a fun and games youth group magazine. Instead, it is an academic piece, with in-depth articles and thought provoking pieces. Last month, the focus was on the future of youth ministry. It always seems like someone has come up with something new and better - i.e. just when you feel like your ministry might be heading in a good direction, the “experts” tell you that you’re doing it all wrong.

One of the articles went through the history and trends of youth ministry, highlighting the contributions Young Life made to the world of youth ministry by emphasizing the relational aspect. But now, the experts say that isn’t enough. It isn’t enough to build relationships with your teens. In fact, one-on-one mentorship isn’t even Biblical in their point of view. Instead we need to be building “communities”. We need to be fostering places where young and old come together and there is no transition from youth group to “big church.”

The problem: they stop there. I can understand what they are trying to get at. Yes, we need to be bridging the gap between the young and the old in our churches and not simply segregate. But on the other hand, how do we do this? Youthworker seems to suggest that youth group should be abolished all together - that the church is really where it happens. The issue with this is that in many churches (ours included), the teens don’t really feel a part of the congregation; a part of the body. A lot of the issues they are dealing with or situations they are facing don’t come up in church situations. So what do we do if we can’t change our church? Do we just stop youth group work because it’s not a good enough “community?”

I think not. Youthworker is good at spouting philosophy, but in methodology, they lack presence. So for the meantime, I think we should continue reaching out to our youth the best way we know how. Yes, we will be informed of cultural trends and the “newest, latest” buzzwords in youth ministry. Yet, when it all comes down, I think the key is being a willing servant of God reaching out into the lives of teen, showing them in whatever way possible the height and depth and width of God’s love and the joy to be found in a relationship with Him. This transcends people groups, economic boundaries, and even time-lines.

7 comments.

Roger

Comment on September 8th, 2004.

I hadn’t realized before that our youth don’t feel like they fit in with the adults of the church…hmmm…how do we merge them all into one (not for good, just when it is necessary)?

Hannah

Comment on September 8th, 2004.

The more I think about this, the more I think that Youthworker may be hinting at trying to get our teens involved in the body of the church - and not just segregate younger Christians into youth group. Teens should be encouraged to participate on the different commitees of the church (i.e. building commitees, mission team) as well as visitor greetors and members of the worship team. I think perhaps we don’t encourage our teens to get involved in these ways because we think they’re too young or too immature - and overlook the value of having older members come alongside our teens as they grow in faith. Perhaps if our teens were plugged into church life, we wouldn’t have so many of them leave the church after they grow out of youth group. Hmmm… still thinking about this.

Roger

Comment on September 9th, 2004.

That’s what I got out of your post, too. I think it’s a good idea, while keeping a Youth Group as well.

Papa Sage

Comment on September 9th, 2004.

I appreciate your frustration with the lack of “how to.”

But I also, as you know, share some of the viewpoint of the Youthworker article. I think when a church has a youth group with a professional ”youth worker’” there is a tendency to just leave the youth to the youth worker. I think the ideal would be older adults, married couples in particular, taking a personal interest in the youth and inviting them into their lives….but that would take a massive shift of vision for most churches and church members.

Hannah

Comment on September 10th, 2004.

I agree, in theory, but again, when the rubber meets the road, issues arise. How do we make that massive switch from the traditional youth group to the church-based community where teens are included in the life of the body? It’s going to take work - and I think most church leaders and parents would rather just leave it up to the “cool youth worker who can relate better to the teens”. And when a youth pastor talks about these ideas with people, the impression we’ve mostly gotten is - are you trying to get out of your job? and, we’re paying you to work with our teens, if you back out, we’ll just end up paying someone else to do it.

I think this switch in the perception of how we do youth ministry will only happen over a large amount of time. And rural areas where they are resistant to change will take even longer.

Hannah

Comment on September 10th, 2004.

You know, everytime I see “Papa Sage” my mind automatically wants to think it says Papa Smurf :)

boraginaceae

Comment on September 12th, 2004.

Youth leader, don’t lose heart. As a parent, I know my teens have spiritually absorbed things from another adult that they just wouldn’t hear from me anymore and the circle of Christian peers is a tremendous comfort. Growing up in a church without a youth group I also know that a teen CAN be a functioning member in a Church body. I volunteered many hours of service and became involved in many of the activities right alongside older adults. It gave me a tremendous feeling of self-worth to know I was contributing to God’s work, even at times in a small capacity. The example and acceptance by older people (some only a few years older than me)was inspiring to me. Perhaps you can find ways to lead your teens into becoming valuable resources for your church and at the same time, help the teens feel like a part of the whole. Some ideas might be: building & gardens care, church library, flipping pancakes, music groups, making pies and visiting people. Whatever you do, don’t be discouraged, change does take time and your work does make a difference.

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