As it relates to pizza and roller skates that title merely attempts to captures the overall lack of well being of many youth ministries, including diet. I know youth workers who’ve stated that compromising their diet and subsequently their physical health is a necessary consequence in working with youth, a built-in pitfall of sorts. This need not be so. With obesity in youth at an all time high due to sedentary life styles (as in X-Box and PS2 passing for “recreation”), it’s imperative that our approach to youth ministry be holistic and deal with the physical and social needs of our youth in addition to the “main course”, their spiritual growth (this article’s main focus). But of course we have to be modeling such balance and stewardship ourselves.

God has used national youth-centered parachurch ministries like Youth for Christ, Young Life, Youth on a Mission and dozens of others for decades to reach and grow the next generation of saints. Lots of these ministries are still in existence, still effective, some are not. But what about the condition of the youth ministry of the average church across the country, disconnected for whatever reasons (that’s another article) from the approaches and resources of ministries such as these?

Let the little children come to Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven
- Matthew 19:14 NKJV

Let’s look at this scripture a little differently and consider it in light of youth ministry. I don’t think it’s full meaning is only applicable to “little cuddly ones” who Jesus (or our pastors) would kiss and then dismiss. But perhaps also to those looking, even at younger ages than we often expect, to make sense of the world, to have their many “why questions” answered. What better time to begin cultivating a “heaven’s mentality?” Embracing them with their inquisitiveness and “rough edges” not only when its convenient, or when we feel like dealing with youth, but at multiple points of entry socially and in ministry, dismantling the ageism often prevalent in church activities.

But does the traditional church service or youth ministry do that? What are some of the ways we may be forbidding them? Dress codes, impractical theology, analogies irrelevant to their realities, overlong services, “because the Bible says so” style of “teaching,” etc. Again, we’re not bashing fam, just being honest, attempting to sharpen.

I recall a former co-worker saying to me something that struck me quite profoundly. We know scripture teaches that God meets us where we are right? Well, this friend of mine said to me as she recalled her growth in Christ that, “when I was 9 (years old), Jesus was 9 too.” What she meant is that Jesus was made relevant to her at that point in her life. I was like whoa!! Are we forbidding them by giving a 9 year old, a 17-year old Jesus, or a 17 year old, a 30 year old Jesus? Something to ponder. Back to the “because the Bible says so” style of teaching.

So when I say Jesus loves me, I talk what I know, not just because the Bible tells me so…”
– Corey Red from Jesus Saves (Resistance Iz Futile)

The authority of scripture is not at question here, but often times we do a poor job of teaching our youth systematically the WHY’s of key biblical principals that are to affect their behavior as Christians. It’s like a father whose kids don’t respect him, or love him, but fear him, in an unhealthy way. He fails to teach them, but instead is always pulling authoritative rank (see Ephesians 6:4). As you may know sexual temptation is a major stumbling block for Christians, especially youth. Hormones rage causing teen pregnancy and sexual sin to be quite pervasive among professing Christian adolescents. Yet candid, in-depth, bible-centered teaching on abstinence seems to evade many youth groups. I’ve done abstinence work for several years and have walked away from many a youth seminar at a church grieved by not only the ministry’s lack of a plan to deal with imminent sexual issues among its youth, but a lack of a consensus by the adults, Christians, as to whether abstinence is “realistic.” There are too many risqué songs in secular hip-hop and R & B as well as godly responses from Christian MCs (peep da Truth’s Fourplay for starters) for the church’s dealing with this subject to remain so elementary and non-culturally contextual.

Cultural Context

A timely example (at this writing) of how to utilize popular culture with youth groups is in discussion starters. Ask a group of middle or high schooler questions like what kind of picture does a show like "Desperate Housewives" paint of marriage? The requisite follow-up of course is what is God’s view of marriage? This is just one way of demonstrating where our culture is and how opposing God’s ways is “entertaining” and lucrative. Or what about showing upper elementary and middle school students what the Bible says about witchcraft and sorcery then discussing Harry Potter.

One of our Yuinon members posted on our message board that he was flicking channels and was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a large congregation (of a well known ministry, on a prominent Christian network) being challenged by a Christ-centered MC to expose themselves, and their youth to (Christian) hip-hop and support it. He pointed out that their ignorance, reluctance and/or skepticism was conspicuous given that there was all kinds of hip-hop gear (Rocawear, Sean Jean, etc.) represented in the audience. We have to go another further and advocate for these brothers and sisters who minister through rhyme who are also seasoned enough to speak and teach. Expose them to such guests. We must get involved and walk with leaders who simply may have not honestly thought about how they plan the “youth explosions” with the $300 budgets featuring a (non-compensated) rapper with a fisher price mic and karaoke sound system. Hmmm, would Vickie Winans be asked to “make do” in a situation like this? In some cases though these type of actions, as sad as it might seem, are not oversights but rather indicative that youth ministry is devalued, undeserving of the same pre-planning and consultation given to the retreats, conferences and special events of other ministries.
Our presence and involvement with youth ministries is important to dispel myths and preconceived notions about our generation and provide suggestions as to what will effectively reach this generation.

For example, as it relates to even exposure to Christian hip-hop, I’ve heard comments and stories of pastors and elders saying things like when you’re going through, are on your sickbed or at a funeral you don’t wanna hear no “boom bap.” The ignorance in statements such as this is frustrating but understandable. So we have to be committed to understanding their perspective (which may include fear) and tactfully explain things. In this case, it should not be assumed that the intention of MCs is to totally supplant other forms or styles of praise and worship or use rap in all situations. Also, who said that a rap song cannot be worship? Have we placed God into a sonic box of Hammond organs, or acoustic guitars? I’ve seen it happen, heard countless stories, the same outcome elicited from “traditional” praise and worship arrived at through Spirit-led MCs. I’ve also seen outbursts of jubilation among older saints (or in some cases skeptics convicted of having assumed) when it is realized that God is indeed doing a new and different work in this generation! But it all comes back to “openness” on the part of leaders who must give themselves and their “flock” a chance to be blessed by it.

I become all things to all men, that I might win some…
I Corinthians 9:19 (paraphrased)

Statistics and Trends

Christian researcher George Barna discovered that approximately 80% of those who come to know Christ as their personal savior do so before the age of 18. This statistic should be the impetus for youth ministries to constantly be a major focal point of any church, across denominations, yet it is not uncommon for many churches to have the VBS curriculum as the only budgeted youth ministry item. Despite this, a recent study forwarded to me on church trends within the next 10 years was encouraging. Two pertinent shifts it noted was an increased focus on child and youth evangelism, and a significant increase in full-time salaried youth pastors. Can you believe that currently less than 1% of the entire country’s thousands and thousands of churches have full-time, salaried youth pastors? I could be wrong, and I hope I am, but my source, one of the few such pastors substantiates it from his years of engagement of youth ministry and conferences on a national level. This unfortunate truth is fed by the widespread belief of many in ministry and many who aspire to be in ministry that you merely “cut your teeth” on youth ministry before graduating to “real ministry.”

Summer Fun, Good But…

For some churches, summer seems to bring about a greater emphasis on youth ministry, but the totality is often camps and vacation bible school. Numerous and excellently run Christian camps enrich thousands of lives annually, successfully evangelizing youth and exposing them to the God of creation in a way many rarely experience, but waiting for them when they return to school in the fall, well the day after they get home, are the “cares of the world” and the “desires of the flesh.” In keeping with the challenge to be practical with our theology, for a typical teen or pre-teen this translates as: esteem/ identity issues, (which can lead to substance abuse and promiscuity among other things) broken families (which includes transience and social/emotional instability and even violence), and basic sustenance (which makes illegal activities to earn money all the more attractive and supposedly justifiable). So although VBS and camp are needed activities, they cannot replace the longer-term challenge of discipleship, weekly, year-round engagement of youth.

Critics or Change Agents?

Those of us involved with the Yuinon Movement or saints who are apart of this hip-hop generation must be careful not to become the church that we hated, that failed to reach us, engage us (not tolerate or entertain), or our friends. But rather as the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit we must recognize that we can and are called to vitally affect the “body life” despite the barriers and church traditions that exist and may hinder or discourage us. Our complaints about what the church isn’t are no longer valid. We should be seasoned enough to approach our elders according to scripture,

Rebuke not an elder but entreat him as a father…
– I Timothy 5:1 (KJV)

as well as have a ready solution written down.

Write the vision and make it plain tablets that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time… -
Habakkuk 2:2-3a (NKJV)

We have entered into some “appointed times” fam, as it relates to helping the church transition and effectively reach a new generation. But, are we primarily complaining spectator Christians? Let us never utter those infamous six words “we have never done that before” offered as a rationale (but were really excuses and examples of how often we walk by faith) by our elders, many well intentioned, some guilty of despising (our) youth, some just clinging to the old way.

So for the sake of your tradition (the rules handed down by your forefathers), you have set aside the Word of God-depriving it of force and authority and making it of no effect
Matthew 15:6 (Amplified)

And the things you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful who will be able to teach others also
– II Timothy 2:2 (NKJV)

Feel free to let us know about innovative ministries and approaches that you’re aware of as I’m not in a position to say or know exactly what the condition of every youth ministry is. This article is based on experiences, conversations and on the reality that none of us have arrived, therefore we, as well as Kingdom work we’re engaged in should be constantly growing, changing and becoming more effective.

-vessel
12.6.04