What exactly is youth ministry?
Now be careful how you answer this question. Before you do, you might want to reconsider your rhetoric, and think less definitive, for youth ministry is abstract, complex, and not as easily definable as one might think.
Questions to ponder (and discuss):
- What should Youth Ministry be about: small groups, discipleship, games, numbers, outreach, community (church) within a larger community (church), large gathering (the big show), or is it for some you glorified babysittingJ? Is it none, one, some or all of these?
- Is there such a thing as a holistic ‘youth’ ministry? If so, what does it look like? If not, why?
- What aspects of youth ministry do you see are progressing or changing? Is how we do youth ministry changed in the last 5-10 years? What has been your experience and perspective?
- If you have experienced some of these progressions or changes, do you feel like you have been able to adjust and adapt to them OR do you sense frustration because you feel like you must continue doing youth ministry the ‘same’ (last 5-10 years) way?
I welcome your engaging thoughts, insights, and experiences.
15 comments:
Hey man. Great checking up on you via blog.
I trust all is well in Wilmore.
As far as youth ministry, I always thought youth group was just a place to meet chicks. Just kidding. What else would you expect a PK to say. Seriously, I'm not the pro, so I'll keep it zipped and let the experts help with the research.
Just wanted to say hey, and somehow comment on your current post. Weak effort, I know.
Best of times to your wife and child.
Josh
there are many answers that can define what youth ministry is. i am sure you know that they want to be apart of something bigger then themselves. but along with this search of meaning they are also looking for acceptance. now what we do when they come to youth group is up to us. their will be different formats. this however is mine
prayer
music (10-15)
message (5-10 max)
small groups (20-30)
the small groups take the message further with application and community. they discuss questions, that i give the group leaders a few days before hand. but are not limited to that because the teens come up with a lot of great questions themselves to discuss.
How about duplicating the impact of the incarnation of Jesus into the world in the lives of students? The incarnation plays itself out in many ways. Our methods and avenues of grace will change according to the audience, event, and specific teaching we are trying to pass on. But regardless, it's about the incarnation being reciprocated over and over, day in and day out.
Josh,
It is good to hear from you. I totally understand what you are mean...did Charlie ever know you were at youth group just to pick up chicks :)
It was good hearing from you!
Nate,
Thanks for giving us a view into your ministry and the focus you bring to your youth (small group emphasis).
Question, has the youth group always had this type of format? How receptive are the students, parents, and your senior pastor to the emphasis of small groups?
In addition, have you found ways to integrate the students into your church (the services, worship, tech, serving, or other)…if so, how?
Thanks for the post and I am looking forward to hearing more.
Jon,
I love you man...your humble thoughts are well thought out and taken. I totally agree that the methods change, but the teaching remains, however, overall, would you say that most youth groups/youth pastors search and spend much energy on method or on teaching?
In addition, you mentioned that you think that youth ministry is being redefined. I am interested in hearing more about this, could you expound on it further?
Mike,
Good stuff, especially with stating that the 'incarnation plays itself out in many ways'. Being in youth ministry for a couple of years (leading small groups, mentoring, teaching, etc.) could you expand on this a little more? I believe it can happen, but from your perspective, how does a youth pastor (practically) do this?
It just seems that the incarnational method is the basis for the whole youth specialties, doug field, group magazine model of levels to ministry. With the mass, the crowd, the small group, the core, the leaders, all the way down to one on one mentoring. At each level, an intersection is meeting. An incarnational moment is at the forefront. Simply going into the inner city and throwing a rally is incarnational to the people you encounter. But would not have the same effect on the kids who "know everything" already. For them, an incarnational moment would be more experiemental and maybe tactile. Showing them something. letting them feel something.
For instance, Jesus incarnated himself into the world and revealed himself in many ways. To the crowd, he was incarnated as a preacher on the hills (sermon on the mount.) But to Peter James and John (emaphasis on peter) he was incarnational by taking them away from the masses and showing them something way different than they every knew (transfiguration). Incarnation takes root in different situations
so i don't know if i can compete with some of these comments...so i won't:)
first off, there is no such thing as youth ministry being glorified babysitting. that's taking what God has given under your care and trashing it because it doesn't meet up to a standard of numbers or an ideal situation. So calling youth ministry babysitting is just plain misconstrued thinking.
Youth ministry is suppose to be about engaging the youth in becoming more like Christ first off (I believe). Yeah, youth ministry is about connecting them with each other and having fun, yada yada yada. Even though there is a place for chilling out and fun...relationships, especially creating an atmosphere where the student can realize the need for Christ is essential. Ministry is definitely about relationships...it's a key area, but if we don't create an environment where the students can leave saying that they learned more about Christ most of the time, then we are not hitting the target.
as for the other questions, i can't say i have any riveting ideas or comments. i've been in leadership with youth for the past 9 years, but 5 of those years being in the youth group myself...so i must say that discipleship has progressed more and more since i've been part of youth group. (that's my small tidbit of understanding in my arena of ministry). take care jeremy...good to hear from ya!
Hey Jeremy,
Since I've just completed my first three months of being a youth pastor, I now consider myself an expert. :) (read sarcasm)
Question: How is youth group changing?
Evanglism is no longer something we do outside of the church...it's something we do within its walls. We cannot expect the students who show up to be Christians. We cannot expect them to reguritate "Sunday school" answers whether or not they believe them. I just sent out an annoymous survey to my students and was amazed at how many of them openly admitted to not believing in God.
As far as philosophy of ministry goes, I keep coming back to the blind men in John who cry out to Jesus as he is passing by.
This begs the question: How did the men know Jesus was coming if they couldn't SEE him? I believe that somewhere along the way, someone with vision was whispering in their ear: "Here comes Jesus, the one they say heals the blind."
My job as a youth pastor is not to heal the blind. My job is to whisper to the blind about the approaching healer. In order to do this, I must recognize the blind and speak their language.
Not only must I recognize the blind, I also must be able to recognize Jesus.
So there's some quick musings on how youth groups are changing and what role I see myself playing in this process...
Hope you;re enjoying Asbury, Jeremy!
Mandy
Jeremy,
late responce to yours, but yeah,
Charlie was a big help in my time of need. Always there for advice on the best pick-up lines and what not :)
small groups are a big emphasis in the church. in fact the model that i took for youth ministry is directly from the church. we have what we call mini churches. these mini churches exist in homes. most of these groups take the am sunday service and dialogue on it. this provides application and also brings community in the process. we have seen a lot of growth (discipleship) and first time commitments made in these groups. the senior pastor says the ones involved in these groups are the ones that he has to deal with less because the have the groups to be able to sort out issues.
obviously in youth ministry it is a little different. i just brought this same format 2-3 months ago. at first it was hard for the teens to adjust (especially high school guys) but i have seen tremendous growth. comments like "i have really never been able to discuss it like this before." even some parents have come up to me and see how these small groups are shaping the teens.
I know this was written a while ago, but thumbing through some of the descriptions of youth ministry I couldn't help but shriek with terror at some of the ideas that crept up. Youth Ministry is very simple:
Equip youth to follow passionately after Christ, in prayer, worship, discipelship, and relationship.
That's it.
Josh,
Wow, you are right; this was written a while ago, however, I am glad you still posted your thoughts. Thanks for your input. By the way, your profile says that you are a student...where do you attend. IWU? What is your major?
You mentioned: "I couldn't help but shriek with terror at some of the ideas that crept up." I would be interested in hearing what ideas 'crept' you out.
In addition, I agree with you in theory, that youth ministry is simple, however, in practice (just like with other ministries), it is more complex. I would be interested to hear more on how one 'equips' (through worship, prayer, etc.) a student (or adult) to 'follow' Christ...looking forward to dialoguing with you.
-J-
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