Rethinking Youth Ministry

I was raised in youth ministry, although, I didn't like it.  I always prefered to stay with my mother in the preaching of the Word.  Everyone at church would coax me and tell me how wonderful it was.  "Others the same age, you can make friends, you will understand it better."  Well, of course I didn't want to.  I was only 12 or 13 years old, but just so they would stop persuading me, I agreed to visit.  Next Sunday I was back with my mother listening to the Word from the pastor.  The truth is that I loved Jesus and I was hungry for Him and know more about Him.  The youth group was so elementary to me and the ones attending were irreverant and not interested in God.  I didn't want to sign up for peer pressure.

Now days, the story is the same.  I was a youth director before too.  I don't know of any of those youth passionately pursuing God today.  Many of them fell in sin and live a mediocre lifestyle.  In my city where I live we have a renown church with one the top youth facilities in the nation.  I've been there and was saddened to see so much of the world in the facility.   There are violent video games, guitar Hero, programs and entertainment of first class.  Although there are few exeptions, the only ones I know who attend are no different from the world.

Then, reading through the Scriptures, I noticed that this segregation of youth was never intended to be.  Whenever God's people would assemble or even gather in the homes, there were children, young and old together.  Paul's letters were read in the churches, it was obvious every member of the family was present because he refers to them.  When God would call an solemn assembly, He made sure the children were present.

I sincerely pray that local churches would embrace a family integrated ministry rather than segregating the youth and children.



Segregation from NCFIC on Vimeo.