A Question We're Pondering
In the midst of a recent National ReachStudents Council meeting, a conversation arose concerning what seems to be a large number of youth workers who are either being let go from their churches or choosing to leave student ministry. It seemed difficult to put our finger on any single reason. A few common themes arose as we discussed what we are hearing and seeing. Here were a few reasons that surfaced around the table that day:
- Clashing of Ministry Philosophies
There seems to be a growing clash between attractional philosophies to ministry and more incarnational or missional philosophies (or should I say theologies) of ministry. - Entitlement Generation enters Leadership
Maybe this is connected to number 1, but it seems as though some younger leaders are unbending in their ideas and expectations of what their role is and is not. Is this the age-old clash of older and young leaders or has the entitlement generation begun to step into church leadership who may be lacking a humble and teachable spirit? - Increased Expectations
Many of the new generation of church-going parents are ones that grew up in youth ministries themselves but who do not fully understand the shifts in culture and the strength that the undertow of a post-Christian society has on their children. - Declining or Diverted Funds
The recession, of course, has some impact, but some around the table have experienced not simply a shortage of funds, but a diverting of funds to other initiatives in the church, whether that be externally focused ministries, children's ministries, worship ministries, etc. - Poorly Prepared Pastors
Some around the table felt that youth pastors coming out of Christian colleges just aren't being adequately prepared (maybe we simply forget how green we were when we stepped into our first churches). - Career vs. Calling
You don't hear many people talking about calling today. Maybe this shift is a good one which causes us to elevate the priesthood of all believers rather than simply clergy. But if you're stepping into the pastorate, there should be some Gospel fire burning in your bones. I wonder if youth ministry has become more of a career than a calling.
We've done no definitive research, but the group that sat around that table are men and women who love the church, are burdened for young people and who want to follow Jesus closely. They love youth workers and appreciate those who give their lives to the spreading of the Gospel among the emerging generation. The conversation intrigued me. Whether you are a senior pastor, youth pastor, volunteer or parent, I'd love to hear from you. What are you seeing and is there anything you think we can do about it?
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Steve York at October 14th, 2010 6:48pm
Here is my experience:
A few years ago, after five years of being a youth pastor here in Merced, I was seriously considering leaving youth ministry as well. I love our church. I love our students. And I am passionate about helping them grow in Jesus, but I just didn’t know how to do it. I felt that my influence was waning, and that maybe the youth would do better with someone else… a new youth pastor who would have a different vision. In my heart I wanted to train and equip our students to be disciple-makers, but I just had no idea how to do it.
During my first ten years or so as a youth pastor, my approach to ministry could be summed up as incarnational ministry. I focused on just loving on the kids and leading Bible studies. We had a good youth group. Our weekly meeting was fun, but there was something missing. We went to Acquire the Fire and other big conferences… we did our Winter Retreats…. we had our special summer Beach Trips and Water Park excursions, but in my mind, there was more, but I couldn’t put my finger on it (let alone find the solution!).
We had a number of students who would come to church and to youth group, but they were just not interested in spiritual things.
Then something changed. An EV Free pastor moved into town to reach college students with the Gospel. He had a vision to help college students KNOW Jesus, GROW in Jesus, and GO for Jesus. I loved his vision and started investing in the college ministry that he was starting. He discipled me, teaching me a few simple tools to help students KNOW, GROW and GO.
I started using those tools to disciple the college students in our church. Now these college students are on campus at the local community college doing evangelism weekly. They are also discipling students themselves. It is amazing to see the transformation.
I did the same thing with our high school students. I asked them where they were at spiritually, and invited those who wanted to KNOW Jesus, GROW in Jesus and GO for Jesus into a discipleship relationship. Now we have about 10 high school students who are sharing their faith on campus and discipling other students. Here are a few God-Stories:
Kimmy discovered that her friend was interested in knowing more about Jesus, so she shared the gospel with her. After they met for a few times to talk about who Jesus is, Kimmy’s friend accepted Christ. Now, Kimmy is still meeting with her (six months later), discipling her (along with two other students). Kimmy has already taken her out on campus to show her how to share her faith.
Four of our high school students go to Merced High School. They are leading a one-hour afterschool Christian Club on campus once a week. For part of that hour, they break out into three groups: the KNOW group (for those who are seekers and just want to know more about who Jesus is), the GROW group (for those who want grow in their faith in Christ) and the GO group (for those who want to learn how to share their faith and help others know and grow). The really cool thing? Our high school students are leading these groups! There are currently about five students in the KNOW group… students who are not yet believers but who are hearing the Gospel through Anna, a high school junior.
So what have I learned?
Set the bar high
Much of my frustration with youth ministry was a result of trying to minister to the complacent. We had several students who were just not interested in spiritual things. Of course there is pressure to keep them involved (their parents are leaders in the church). But wow, what freedom when I recognized it is not up to me to save them! My job is to discover who wants to KNOW Jesus, GROW in Him, and GO for Him. Once I discovered those who were interested, my wife and I started to disciple them. “Youth Group” changed from a fun “club” to a place where students were coming to KNOW, GROW and GO. Those who didn’t want anything to do with Jesus stopped coming. How things changed!
It is all about Discipleship
I have also learned the value of discipleship. By discipleship I mean pouring into just a few students (three or four of the same gender as me), meeting with them weekly, and teaching them a few simple things they can do to KNOW, GROW and GO. Built into discipleship is the fact that they are being trained to multiply, to disciple others. And they can do it, because I show them how by discipling them.
Get them in the Word
I am so convinced that this is where the transformation happens, when they are having meaningful times in God’s Word. The Discipleship model that we teach them is focused on getting them and their disciples interacting with God’s Word.
Keep it simple
In our culture we suffer from TMI (too much information!). We have so much information that we do very little with any of it. I have learned the value of simplicity. We teach our high schoolers only three tools to KNOW Christ, three tools to GROW in Christ, and three tools to GO make disciples. It is almost too simple! This allows the students to own it. They know they can do it. And they can easily pass it on to the students they are discipling (who can easily pass it on, etc.). It is so transferable!
Equipping Students
I have learned that the best way to promote growth among our students is to focus them outward, on reaching their friends. I am going to be most effective as a youth pastor not by telling them to bring their friends to our church (and to me), but by equipping them to go out to their schools and make disciples. They are reaching students that I could never reach!
Two years ago I had lost my vision for youth ministry. Now I have it back, and more passionately than every before. I am passionate not just about our church… or our youth… I am passionate about reaching high school students everywhere with the Gospel.
Steve York
Youth Pastor
EFC Merced, CA
P.S.
The simple tools that we are using to help students KNOW, GROW and GO are available to anyone at www.studentjesusmovement.com (for high school students) and www.mdoan.org (for college students).
John Kupitz at October 14th, 2010 5:14pm
In your recent email from ReachStudents I saw your comments on a disturbing trend in youth ministry. I’m assuming your conversation arose out of those you know about in the EFCA, but as far as I can tell, your observations are true across the board. I myself haven’t done any empirical studies, but I have seen this happen six or seven times in the last four years to different youth pastors. Here’s what I see are the top 6 factors which mostly relate to yours with some important nuances and at least one major difference:
1. Clashing of Ministry Philosophies
You hit the first one on the head. This is by far the biggest factor. Many youth pastors who have been at things a while are embarrassed at the huge youth groups they had in the eighties and nineties only to discover that most of those youth are now adults who don’t know what a Pharisee is, and don’t like church because it’s not fun enough. The focus on missional ministry is a positive one, but youth pastors have a hard time convincing church elders and senior pastors of that.
2. Entitled Parents meet Entitled youth pastors
It would be unfair to pin the blame on the entitlement generation of leaders, without also noting that the parents of youth and the youth themselves all feel entitled to have things “their way right away”. I call this problem “consumerism”. Youth pastors feel like we are spiritual leaders entitled to some respect. The parents we work with sometimes make us feel like we are immature at worst, or good event planners at best. We don’t provide a place for spiritual growth, just a really fun Christian environment. God forbid we stop being fun and start teaching the word of God. This can be intensely discouraging for youth pastors who truly want to disciple young people.
3. Unrealistic Expectations
I don’t see expectations increasing, but I do see two disturbing expectations which have caused problems for the last 30 years. The first has been around for a long time: numerical growth! If a youth group isn’t growing it is failing in the eyes of many. The second expectation? The youth pastor’s entire life. The youth pastor is often expected to commit to the other ministries (worship, small groups, men’s ministry, women’s ministry, children’s ministry, etc.) as well as frequent evening activities and full day (or week-long) events. This is ridiculously taxing on a youth pastor with a family.
4. Funds
So far, I haven’t met any youth pastors for whom this has been the reason for their leaving, but I’m sure you’re right. There’s no question that funds play a huge role in keeping church staff.
5. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
I don’t see many youth pastors fresh out of college being let go over their lack of experience. Typically churches understand this when they hire someone without experience. What I see more of is the concept that youth ministry is expected to be more seeker-sensitive, evangelical, and moralistic. This is a huge problem for the youth pastor who is contemplative, biblical, and Christ-centered. I shifted my teaching from topical studies to studying books of the Bible and noticed right away that many people were uncomfortable with it. I was let go from one church for telling youth about Amnon and Tamar while going through II Samuel. People want moralistic therapeutic deism. In this model the youth pastor is a morally upright counselor rather than a biblical disciple of Christ.
6. Calling turned Career
I’m not sure about this one. In my experience most youth pastors do still talk a lot about their calling to ministry. I meet many youth pastors who say they feel called only to be knocked down, chewed up, and spit out. Their calling is redefined for them by the leaders of the church and rather than doing what they feel called to do they end up doing whatever others tell them to do. When this happens, the original call upon one’s ministry is lost and the fire of the gospel is squelched.