As you might imagine, I read a lot of articles about church things and, in particular, youth ministry. I recently came across an article by Greg Stier that says a few things that I feel very strongly about. I want to share it with you and then comment:
Too many parents outsource the spiritual development of their teenagers to youth leaders instead of tackling the job personally. But Deuteronomy 6:4-9 was written to dads and moms not youth leaders and sponsors. The power of God’s command through Moses to the people of Israel still reverberates for parents today:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
How can we as parents delegate, relegate or abdicate the spiritual development of our kids to someone else? ...When it comes to the spiritual development of children, it is the primary responsibility of fathers to “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4.) Youth leaders were never meant to replace a parent’s spiritual leadership but, in many cases, that is exactly what has happened.
A healthy ministry to youth requires many things. Here are a couple: One, a partnership between the youth minister and the youth's parents. Two, a partnership between the youth minister and people in the church who are willing to volunteer to help lead the ministry. At our last church, we had a very unhealthy youth ministry. The church was content to leave nearly all of the ministry up to my wife and I. I cannot really speak to what parents may have done within their homes with their youth, but we did not have volunteers who were willing to help us do ministry. We had adults who were willing to bring us food or to give some minor help when absolutely needed. Its hard for me to say this, because I am still friends with some of them, but hindsight is 20/20. When Robyn and I left, the ministry imploded. No one was equipped to continue it. Kids were left to either go to another church (which some did) or they just fell through the cracks because they did not have a church home to begin with (which many did). I'm not trying to point fingers here. I take full responsibility for this lack of leadership on my part.
Here's the thing. If we are going to have a healthy ministry, we are going to have to have help. It is not only a good idea, it is a requirement of the Diocese of Dallas. Actually, it is a requirement of the national church that my wife and I cannot be the only two adults supervising a group of youth according to Safe Church regulations. The last few times we've done youth group it has been exactly that. Again, I am not placing blame on anyone here, I take the blame myself because it is easier for me to just do it than to try and coerce people into helping. However, this is also unhealthy.
I struggle with asking for help.
Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't have to ask.
Sometimes I feel like I'd rather have no one help than have someone who doesn't really want to help.
The bottom line is this. We have to have help.
On one hand, I want people who want to help. People who are passionate about reaching our youth for Christ. Who are willing to help lead a game or two. Who are willing to hang with kids and talk to them and to get to know them.
On the other hand, we just need people.
If you are willing to help us, please let me know next weekend at church. I will have sign up sheets available with a variety of ways that you can help.
(ps... you can read Greg Stier's entire article here: http://www.christianpost.com/news/youth-ministries-are-against-scripture-jesus-was-a-youth-leader-54660/)
Comments