Ridgell's Originals

I am not always a fan of youth ministry... but I am a huge fan of most youth ministers.

Most youth ministers I have ever known love Jesus and love teens.  They deeply care about helping create intentional followers of Jesus.  Many of them envisioned getting out of college and going to a church that would bless them with resources to reach youth people with the good news of Jesus.

And we failed them.

I hear what churches say... but I also see what they do.  And we set up youth ministers to be frustrated and to fail.

The reality is that most youth ministers are evaluated on numbers.  How many of the member's children are involved in the youth program.  And if youth ministers do not connect with the right kids (read:  preacher's kids, deacon kids, and elder grandkids), then they are in trouble.

When our young people do not seem engaged in church, we blame the youth program.  We don't blame parents.  In fact, in most churches parents get a free pass.  So youth ministers resort to more and more exciting, fun, flavor of the month programs and projects in order to keep their job.

We really do not want youth evangelists.  If our youth ministers start converting outside kids, then there is less time to spend on our kids.  And these converts are different.  And some of them will have interested parents.  Which means our parents have to be evangelistic.

We may talk about social inequality, racial equality, and changing culture; but in theory, not in our youth groups.  I am sad at how often we do not want "those people" associating with our kids.

And we do not want our youth ministers to make our kids into real disciple makers.  Not really.

I know this is not true everywhere.  But it is in many places.  And I know the youth ministers are sometimes to blame for strained relations.  I have seen lots of youth ministers who assume that they know more than the parents what teens need and how they should be raised.  They don't.

Many youth programs are shallow, entertainment driven ministries.  But that is what is expected at many places.  We would never say this, but the reality gets communicated.  How many youth ministers would get hired who are going to stress learning the Bible?  Or who expect their kids to be able to share the good news  before they are allowed to go on a mission trip?  Or who don't schedule 4 activities weekly because they expect their teens to be involved in a small group with their parents?

And if you are reading this and thinking that I am all wrong and that you really want youth ministers that will challenge our teens, that will be outreach driven, and that will engage the parents and other family members in co-ministry... then let's go.

Start communicating different expectations to your youth minister.  And maybe to the preacher and elders.  Let them know you expect more than a devo where everyone holds up a little light and talks about changing the world.  Let them know you expect them to start doing it.

And then protect your youth minister if he tries to do this.  Because some kids may not like it.  Well, actually some parents may not like it.  Believe me, I know.  Those same parents don't like it when we try to do this kind of thing with them.

So if your youth minister is about gimmicks, entertainment, low expectations, preserving the status quo, pleasing us, focusing on our kids, and doing just enough short-time things to make us all feel good.. . then ask him why he thinks that is what we expect.

And you may not like the answer.  but at least you won't wonder why so many of them get discourage and quit.

But that's a subject for another blog.

So God -- bless our youth ministers that want to change lives thru the power of your son Jesus.  And bless the parents who expect that.