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What Needs to Change in Youth Ministry?

Evidence-based youth ministry

What I love about the Sticky Faith concept, is the fact that it is evidence based. It’s based on actual research, which sadly is somewhat of a novelty in youth ministry. Too many of our concepts and methods are based on experience, most often someone else’s. Someone discovers something that works in his or her youth ministry, writes a book about it and everyone else follows. About the only thing that’s ever being supported by numbers is the statistics on youth leaving the church and we can’t even find agreement on those.

I think we should have far more evidence-based methods and practices. If something works, that’s great, but we should ask the question why it works. Let’s say someone has a new small group study method that works. Does it work because the method is right, or does it work because the small group leader happens to be specially gifted in connecting with youth? Evidence-based youth ministry may be costly and a bit more academic than most of us would like, but it could very well be the one thing we need to turn the tide.

Youth ministry as part of the church

Youth ministry should be smack dab in the middle of the church, not on the fringes. We are part of the church and we need to act like it. There should be something for teens and students in each service. They need to feel at home in the church, not just in youth services. They should serve in the whole church, not just in youth ministry.

Young people need examples form all ages and generations, and vice versa. So facilitate connections between your students and older and younger generations. Have them babysit, do Kids Club, have them do chores for the elderly. Seek grandparents as mentors, youth leaders. Make sure your students don’t just connect with twenty- and thirty-somethings.

Support families

Family ministry has become a bit of a buzz word, but too often it’s being interpreted as doing extra events for families. As youth ministry and as the church, we should focus on the bigger picture of supporting families in the broadest sense.

Parents are the biggest influence on teens. That’s how it should be. We need to make sure that parents are equipped to be a good influence on their kids, by giving them practical, theological and psychological support. We need to teach them what they need to know, give them the information they need, we need to help them out of they can’t manage, offer whatever support they need. Our job is to facilitate the parents to do their job with their kids.

What do you think so far, so you agree with me? I’d love to hear your thoughts!