A Rant About Youth Ministry! (Panama City—Day One)
I am about to go pack for Panama City Beach…and there is a tropical storm in the gulf...oh well, if NewSpring is going to be involved then something unique has to happen!!!
Anyway…this trip is bringing back tons of memories. I “cut my teeth” by doing youth ministry. I remember the days of lock ins (which are satanic and unbiblical!), sporting events, summer camps, and Wednesday night services (which at my first church were often canceled because we had to bring the youth group into the Wednesday night business meeting so that there would be enough people to vote—I think I just heard a youth pastor somewhere sigh!)
Let me say this—I LOVE working with teenagers! It makes me so angry when I hear someone say, “We need to really reach out to our youth—they are the church of tomorrow!” Bull Crap!!! They are the church of TODAY! They matter TODAY! They have struggles TODAY! They need Jesus TODAY! And if we don’t reach them TODAY then we
WILL lose them tomorrow!
A recent statistic I read sent chills up my spine—it said that out of all of the teenagers in America today, only around 4% of them will graduate high school with a relationship with Jesus Christ! Hello Houston, we have a problem! FOUR PERCENT! That is why I believe that one of the greatest mission fields that exists in America today is the teenage population!!! If we don’t reach our teenagers…well…you just THINK America has problems now—wait until a generation who doesn’t know God takes the reigns of leadership!
At NewSpring our youth ministry will ALWAYS be a priority! We are taking steps now to create more room at the mall since they have outgrown the Fusebox. AND—there are some initial plans being developed to build them their own student ministry facility on site!!! We aren’t playing games—I will NOT be a pastor of a church where more money is spent on hymnals, stained glass windows, and a communion table than on the youth ministry! FOLKS—the harvest IS plentiful!
Our entire staff realizes this as many have taken the week to go and invest in our teens…the dude who runs the lights for our church on Sundays is going to run the lights for the camp—the guy who runs sound is going to be doing so for the camp—Lee and the majority of the band are going to be leading worship—I’m telling you—it’s going to be off the hook!!!
Let me just say this before I conclude my rant. :-) One of the largest problems that exists in the church is the lack of interest by adults in working with teenagers. I am saying it right here—NewSpring needs more adults working with teens…if you are reading this blog and go to another church—then I promise you that your church needs more adults working with teens. If you want to make a difference—then GIVE YOURSELF to the generation that is following you! That’s how you live on forever.
Let me explain why this is important…
I was in youth ministry for eight and a half years…I will bet you that anyone who was in my former youth group could not tell you five messages that I preached; however, they remember the time I sat in the Baskin Robbins parking lot and cried with them over the break-up with a boyfriend. They remember me showing up at the basketball game. They remember me hanging out with them after their mother had passed away. They remember that someone cares—and they need MORE people who will step up and take that role.
You might not be able to preach, teach, or sing—but you can be there for a teen and model who Jesus is—THAT is what they need. Teenagers are not dropping out of church because the church lacks the resources to reach them—they are dropping out of church because, frankly, many adults in the church do not care and would rather spend time condemning their behavior rather than seeking to reach them!
Now let me be up front—in order to work with our teenagers at NewSpring you must undergo a federal background check in which the church will pay for. If you will not go through this—then we ask that you pray for our youth ministry—but you will not be allowed to work with them—we are SERIOUS about doing all that we can to protect our teens.
AND if you are interested—I would ask that you call the office next week—why next week—because we are all at the beach this week!!! Pray for us—and check back here for updates! (And if you go to another church—then go sign up RIGHT NOW for youth ministry!!!)
Got to go—I’ve always wanted to ride a wave runner in the ocean while a tropical storm is heading in…can you imagine how high those waves are going to be!!! :-)
By the way—parents—I have spoken with the crew in Panama City—their is not a panic in any way regarding this “storm” that is possibly headed our way. The “locals” say that wind a rain is all that will come out of it! Trust me—your kids are safe! I promise that, if the situation were at all dangerous then we would not be there! It’s going to rock!