What is youth ministry?
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Jeb & Barb Egbert |
I
was sitting on the deck outside the house I stay in at the Summer Educational Program in Orr, Minnesota, a few years back. It was fairly early in the morning.Suddenly, over a rise to the west, I heard the soft sounds of music. I heard the sounds of guitar-strumming and the sweet, soft sounds of young people singing. I rose out of my chair and walked to a position where I could identify what was happening. Like a magnet, the music drew me in its direction.
There, sitting in a small circle, were perhaps eight to 10 teens. They were singing hymns of praise and worship out near the SEP canoe area. I searched the small group to see who the coordinating minister was. And scrutinize though I did, I could not find a single adult. What I was witnessing was youth ministry in full bloom.
We are committed to youth ministry. Young people need Jesus in their lives as much as anyone. Satan has intentionally and strategically focused his warfare on youths.
As a denomination, we must be more intentional about our vision of youth ministry. Last fall, the denominational vision for youth ministry was affirmed. A group of concerned members described what a youth-friendly denomination would look like. Some of the hallmarks of such a denomination include:
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A wall of love surrounds every youth that comes in contact with us.
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Every congregation will provide a safe and loving environment for youths.
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Every congregation knows its youths by name, and the major events in their lives are joyfully celebrated.
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All age groups, including youths, are integrated into the worship and work of each congregation.
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Every congregation has an active and effective youth ministry with a nursery, a children’s ministry, a teen ministry and a young adults’ ministry. In addition, there will be both youth oriented and intergenerational small groups.
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Every district will have a team of gifted youth ministry leaders made up of older teens and college-age and older adults.
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We will be the denomination of choice for our youths, their families, and their unchurched friends.
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Youths will freely and actively reach out to youths in their schools and communities, introducing them to Jesus and bringing them to a place to grow as Jesus’ disciples.
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Rather than growing weaker, our youths will become stronger in their devotion to Jesus, even as they encounter the hardships of life.
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We will be mentoring youths who will become pastors and other key ministry leaders in our congregations.
Ultimately, youth ministry in our denomination will have much the look and feel of what I saw that early summer morning at SEP. Young people will be ministering, encouraging and loving one another. They will be praying for one another.
They will worship together. Without a program. Without a chaperon. Without adult supervision. Being filled with the Holy Spirit, they will reach out to one another with love and compassion, and share the gospel message.
We are seeing more and more that this vision is becoming realized. Young people are reaching out to their unchurched friends and inviting them to join our happy throng. Young people are becoming more actively involved in their congregations. Young people are ministering to each other, and that is the essence of youth ministry.
Jeb Egbert, 2001
