Comments on: 5 Problems American Youth Ministry Is Experiencing

By: Cory moore

Cory moore — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:19:35 +0000

there is also the difference in experiences between a teen and a an adult. not many teens experience what adults experience

By: Shawn Withy-Allen

Shawn Withy-Allen — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:18:51 +0000

Jeremy,
Excellent post, I can definitely concur. I think it all begins with #1. When up to 85% of Christian teens leave their faith by 2nd yr in college, that tells me by separating the youth from the rest of the church we are in fact setting them up for failure. If all we do is cater a program around what will keep them coming back it’s no wonder they grow weary of “church”. They’ve never learned how to function in a local church.

Rather than entertaining teens, we should be engaging them in real life discussions and placing the same expectation to “be the church” that we place on the adults. God never seemed to care how old someone was, and there are plenty of examples in Scripture of young people responding to the call of God and changing the world. There is no Jr Holy Spirit, only our jr standards and expectations.

I wonder what would happen if we were more intentional about not only getting students involved in small groups but actually training and releasing them to be small group leaders before going off to college.

Oh wait, I know a few of them and guess what? They’re still in love with Jesus and leading small groups in college=)

By: mac in christ

mac in christ — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:54:00 +0000

I am not a youth pastor, but a long time youth worker and bible teacher. I am 58 yrs young and have been involved in youth ministry since my teens. (campus life – campus crusade, etc.) What I have observed over the years is cutural differences and not doctrinal differences. The older church generations have become afraid of what they see in youth ministries today. The music and vidio generation, reminds them of my generation (early fifties) and the rebelion that came along with those changes. What has been lost (at least to me) is the memory that every generation that comes along will bring with it it’s own brand of culture. What I have found over the years (that has worked) is to get inside that generation’s ideals and patiently but purposely redirect them toward Christ and His Gospel (biblical ideals) and bring them to real life thinking about the consequences of their thoughts and actions. Just remember – sin is sin and no matter how it is packaged, it will still have the same result if left unchallenged. Just remember how Jesus approached the woman at the well – He challenged her life style and offered her something better!

By: Lars Rood

Lars Rood — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:33:04 +0000

Chap said he loved it so what do you need me to do. I think your thought about the limit teaching about other religions is huge. I’m tired of the argument about counterfit money where they say you don’t need to recognize fake money but just to know real money so well you can tell when something isn’t real. I guess my hope is that we would be able to expose them to what many of their friends believe and do it in a way that allows them to affirm their friends and love them while somehow being able to relate to where they are at. The days of teaching students to “argue” someone to heaven are over. I’m done with any Evidence that Demands a Verdict. I just want to teach about how to Love people. (I also want to do it and not just say it)

By: scott aughtmon @lastingministry

scott aughtmon @lastingministry — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:21:57 +0000

Jeremy – Really cool post. I’m gonna tweet a link to it. I really like all your points but #2 and #5 really resonate with me. I think those are both really important aspects for a student ministry to have so that it can have a “lasting” affect on our students.