I completely agree that youth ministry has become too centered around the youth minister, and I am a youth minister. I have to admit that the article did make me feel somewhat threatened as far as my job is concerned, but I realize that my calling is so much more than a job. The only problem I have is the assumption that the youth in the church have parents who are at least somewhat involved in their child's life and in the church. They would have to be in order to equip them to minister to their child. However, where does this leave the students that have parents that are uninterested in any type of spiritual life or that are uninvolved in their childs life all together. I realize the easy answer is to reachout to the parents, but that is a token answer and even if it does work, it is something that would be a long involved process. So what should happen with the students during that process. A parent can't minster their child until they have been ministered too, and that could take years; time in which if left to the parents, the child would be spiritually neglected. I agree that most churchs and youth ministries have missed the mark and there needs to be change. I'm just at a loss of what is next.
--Al Jacobi ( aljacobi at jubileeshores dot net ) on 4/11/2005; 12:15:26 PM

I agree. Isn't our job as pastor to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. Our model would be more biblical and in turn be more effective, if we were teaching parents and other adults to lead the ministrty. Almost, as if, we were looking at ourselves as a consultant. It's not our ministry. It is their ministry full of their children. We are going to have to shift to a model that trains parents to lead their teens. Isn't that what most of the leadership books tell us to do anyway. And, the greatest leader of all time, Jesus, He led that way and is still leading that way. We would be wise to follow His lead.
--Scott ( mychickenfred at msn dot com ) on 4/8/2005; 9:55:36 AM

I have been given the opportunity to work with the youth at our church and have also seen other youth groups in action over the years. It makes me sick to see the children being catered to and entertained, this makes for adult members who want to be catered to and entertained. I believe that we have been lazy when it comes to the future of the body of christ. I think we have downplayed the call upon our lives and those of the youth, the future of the body of christ! Those who have the opportunity to serve the youth in thier church would be doing their church and community, nation, and world a greater service if they held themselves acountable as well as the youth accountable to the calls on their lives. The enemy takes very seriously those that he trains. We should even more those that serve THE KING and are His ambassadors wherever He has placed us. SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM!
--marc ( CANNONCashiers at aol dot com ) on 4/7/2005; 1:00:24 PM