Youth Ministry Can Be Challenging

Navigating The Rough Rivers of Youth Ministry

(Written by Kevin Hall  09.18.17)

We are encouraged not to think inside a closet. “The Bible is not an exhaustive revelation about everything we might need to consider” (246), as it is silent on many issues. Often times, Christian leadership calls for separation from the world, including its philosophies and practices of culture. But Robbins encourages otherwise. There are lessons on the impact of culture that can better shape of ministry effectiveness. These include:

(1)    Look beyond the surface movement of the river – We need to be sensitive about the culture around us. When we investigate and reflect we will find clues that influence our young people outside of the doctrine we feed them weekly: “Notions about God and spirituality, tribal affiliations (wear black), escape patterns (cutting themselves after a break-up), assumptions (this is what is fun these days)

(2)    Defying what may seem different from the banks of the river – Youth culture mat seem scary, but we are called to engage and remain relevant. Jesus and Paul modeled this (John 1:14); 1 Thes. 2:7-9)

(3)    We should focus on the river, not on the rapids of the river – It is easy to “get preoccupied with the twists and turns, splashes, waves and dips of their journey, but lose sight of the individual” (322). With all that is going on, we cannot forget to provide safe-spaces and we will not make a difference if we “do not keep an eye on the subject” (328). Kids will be kids.

Granted, we are not salespersons as ministers of the Gospel, but in a sense, we are. We must close the deal as they say. One way to do this is to consider the “products of the kingdom message we present”. Is it just gloom and doom and judgment? Or are there benefits that our young people are seeking for in pop-culture that is available in a relationship with Christ. Since the search of every human can be summed up in four main concerns (Intimacy, Identity, Initiative and Immanence), then should we not find a way to package what we are presenting? Just some of the benefits of becoming a part of God’s kingdom include – forgiveness of sins, peace, grace, mercy, unconditional love and rest. Which teen or adult is not looking for something on that list of benefits?

Lastly, there is an urgent need for all involved in ministry to know how philosophies have impacted our culture – Secularism has essentially removed God from the marketplace and is making in-roads in our private lives; Pluralism encourages us to believe everything and nothing; Privitism encourages the dichotomy of public and private morality; while Postmodernism is the sum of all three. Postmodernism essentially promotes “a culture of no-shame” (303). We see this playing out daily as we are encouraged to run a rat race to fill an emptiness through “Pursuit, Possession, Profession, Pleasure, Passion and Perversity” (303). This is major important. Our young people (at their level), are involved in this race as well. There is doubt of God, Churches and Youth workers may seem irrelevant; Culture seemingly provides an escape; There is no right or wrong. How does the Gospel fit into all of this?

That’s where passionate ministry workers come in. We can understand Youth culture by “dwelling among them”. Robbins calls it “moving beyond theory into Presence”. We can start by fishing where they live – parking lots, birthday parties. Street corners, Snap chat accounts, the mall. He also suggests doing an “ethnographic research” (319). This will be very helpful over this next few weeks as I take on a new ministry role. Armed with this information, I can “talk to the kids, talk with present and past Youth workers, and talk with parents”. I must partner with the parents if I am to know what’s really happening. Our kids will always engage in mimicry, but the church can contribute greatly to biblical social norming.

References:

Robbins, D. This Way To Youth Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan (2004)

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