The other day I was asked: "Jeremy...once a student has gone through your youth ministry program what is one thing you want them to have internalized?" My answer: That they understand they are a full time missionary at every facet of their life. They are missionaries in their neighborhoods, schools, athletics, house, movie theater, restaurant, etc... They see God moving everywhere in and outside of church.

A missional youth ministry highly values understanding (contextualization) and serving the local community. In the youth ministry world, school campuses are the life and blood of where our students spend most of their time.

I am arguing that discipling students before they believe is the new youth ministry evangelism method. Youth pastors are dealing with such an unChristian and unChurched teenage population that deeply studying books of the Bible, theology, and ethical issues are what the students are needing. Teaching for 45 minutes about Levictus can now be the new cool thing to do in youth ministry. Why? Because Bible literacy and education is so removed from the teenage culture.

One of the defining elements of missional youth ministry is the how the youth ministry does evangelism. There are two types of evangelism strategies: Inside/Out-- Prep, train, and educate kids and sent them out into the world to do evangelism. Basically you go a non-believer on their turf. Outside/In-- Throw events and get non-believers into your youth room. Basically you take a non-believer put him/her on your turf.

What should bother youth pastors more? 1. Students who don't memorize their Bible verses 2. The local needs of their community No, you cannot say both.