Does “youth ministry” need a new name?

Let’s consider an American context for a second. Who calls people in their teen years “youth” anymore? I don’t think that “teenager” is any better and could be worse because the adolescent condition spills well into a person’s 20’s.

Is it “family ministry?” This has nice sentiment but it doesn’t necessarily maintain a needed focus on this crucial period in one’s life. I also don’t see, for example, “Men’s ministry” using “Family ministry” which is just as connected to the family as the “youth” are. Also, “family” carries multiple meanings these days.

And what about “ministry?” Does this generation want to be “ministered” to? It also has a feel of “youth ministers” being the “givers” while the “youth” are the receivers. Does this create an unequal distribution of power? Does it perpetuate adolescent consumerism or ecclesiastical marketing?

And why does it matter? Minimally, I’m not certain it captures what “youth ministry” does anymore. At worst, I wonder if the term “youth ministry” perpetuates an unhealthy concept of what this endeavor is all about.

What do you think? What is “Youth Ministry” really? How might this expression be captured more faithfully or accurately? I’d value your input…

Shifting freaks people out.

Some want to shift back to the good old days.
Some worry about a youth ministry shift to the “left.”
Some worry about a youth ministry shift to the “right.”

What if we all tried to shift forward?

Shifting forward means that we can’t go forward unless we recognize where we’ve come from. It respects the “back” without going back… which, really, is impossible and undesirable.

Shifting forward means that we have something we’re shifting toward. The shift, though essential for the journey, isn’t the goal. We don’t shift just to shift.

The image or longing of what can be of rescue, healing, wholeness, reconciliation (to name few)… is the goal. The shift is the struggle to get there. THERE. Something forward… something “not yet” yet so necessary. Shifting enters into this tension.

Shifts to the left and right are adjustments along the way as each person, bent on the goal, image, or longing, encourages the other. There is no need to pull left, right, or back, if all are committed to forward.

Its informed improv.
Its self-giving.
It seems redemptive.

Its taking a historical story and articulating it in a current era and context.
Its giving space for each other to participate in resurrection that has been secured.
For love of the world that Jesus loves.

Sometimes the fear of shifting… makes us shift-less.
And maybe that’s the most harmful place to be…

Yesterday we had a wonderful breakout session exploring the world of adolescents. One of the big take-aways was this. Adults offer a lot of answers without asking a lot of questions.

We worked together as a group and compiled 100 Questions to help us shift our posture from “teller” to learner and want to share them with all of you.

May our posture shift…

1. What are the big problems in the world? How would you solve them?

2. What would you do if you were president?

3. What should church be about?

4. What would you want people to say about you after you leave earth?

5. What are your parents like?

6. How would you define truth?

7. Where do you think you’ll be in ten years?

8. What makes you happy?

9. What are you most hopeful?

10. What’s something that bothers you that you wish you could change?

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No one shifts alone.

One shift… causes many shifts.

I had lunch with Jeremy and Tim yesterday. They’re connected with a church on the east coast and were sharing with me their dreams for youth ministry in their contexts and the challenges of being youth pastors.

They had great ideas.
Tons of passion.

And wonderful things to say about their students and their church.

Our conversation turned to the realization that youth ministry… contained to “youth ministry” shuffles… it doesn’t shift.

Shift needs movement from the whole faith community.

Youth ministry shift needs whole church shift.
Whole church shift needs youth ministry shift.

Until whole faith communities realize this, I think we’re just playing ministry games.

Specifically, if a church wants to have a youth ministry, it must be committed to more than “reaching teenagers.” They need to be committed to shifting/changing themselves, otherwise, youth ministry is nothing more than a marketing initiative…

Shift conference speakers thus far have called for shifts in the way we perceive our world (Brian McLaren) and the ways we perceive ourselves (Mark Yaconelli).

Maybe this is the biggest shift that needs to happen and potentially, the one most likely not to.

I often wonder if youth ministry has been so programmed (literally and metaphorically) into “shifting students” rather than shifting youth pastors and youth ministry posture… that it can’t, without great effort, shift toward a clearer expression of of community, posture, good news, faith, love etc. etc.

Such a shift calls for a radical rethinking of the very roles and structures from which youth ministry comes.

Talk about biting the hand that feeds.

Real “shift” isn’t trendy. It’s death defying…

This next Wednesday through Friday (April 9-11), I’ll be at the SHIFT Conference at Willow Creek Community Church. I’m hoping to connect and learn with a lot of wonderful people. I’ve heard that about 1600 student ministry leaders are attending, from all around the world. Should be very exciting…

Grand Rapids Theological Seminary will have a booth there. Please swing by and say, “Hello” to Shane!

I’m leading a point-leaders session on Thursday morning called: Theological essentials for missional leadership.

I’m teaching a general seminar on Thursday afternoon called: Understanding the world of adolescents.

And on Friday morning, I’m facilitating a “Cups of Coffee” roundtable called : Triple tall americano. Yep, I’ll be drinking one of those.

My hope is that this roundtable will give opportunity to dream a bit about where youth ministry needs to go and talk about how you’re wrestling with issues in your contexts.

What I don’t mean by this is that youth ministry is lame right now. What I think it might mean is that, as we ask students to grow, change, and transform, youth ministry, and more specifically youth workers… need to grow, change, and transform as well. Anyway, I’ll come with a list… but I’m more interested in yours…

If you’re going, give me a holler…

Scot McKnight speaks at GRTS’s chapel this Wednesday, March 26 at 10am.

Scot is professor at North Park University in Chicago, author, and blogger.

Feel free to join us on Wednesday!

Christ is risen!

Surprise.

Unbelief in a believing sort of way.

Excitement.

Possibility.

Healing.

Hope.

Restoration

For everyone.

Everywhere.

Pass it on….

What does one do after a Friday like the one that first holy week?

Rest?

Hardly.

Saturday may be worse than Friday.

Ask anyone who has suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sounds. Places. People. Events. Memories…

Can trigger recurring images of ongoing terror that reverberate way beyond Friday.

The gospel writers say that the disciples fled the scene utterly confused by Friday’s events.

Saturday is a day of

… fear

… terror

… a pit in the stomach

… questions

Will I be next?

Will it get worse?

Hope is dead.

What is worth living for?

Holy Saturdays legitimizes anyone who has felt this way.

May you know that you are understood.

May you know that there are glimmers of light on the horizon…

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. (Matthew 27)

Friday.

Good Friday.

Isn’t for the “good guys.”

The bad win today.

Oppressors oppress

Deceivers deceive

Mockers mock

Enemies gloat

Exploiters exploit

Haters hate

That’s “good” Friday

So what’s good about it?

Please don’t rush to Sunday.

This is Friday.

Ugly Friday.

Evil Friday.

Dark Friday.

Damn Friday.

It’s here we need to go.

Not skipping past Friday to Sunday.

Walk up to Friday… get close … closer… and take it in.

Find something to get close to today.

Something that bothers you.

Something that wants to make you look away.

Teenagers with no parents.

Suicide the third leading cause of death for teenagers.

Teenager abuse of prescription drugs is on the increase.

Big business exploiting teenagers for profit.

Sex trafficking of young children and woman in the United States.

Abuse.

Poverty.

Addiction.

…

What if we were to look at it?

What if we were to get close enough to it to smell its stench and be so repulsed by the daily, damn Fridays of the exploited, that it would trip us up before we skip to Sunday?

This is where Jesus goes. To Friday. To everyones’ Friday.

He is unwilling to say, “it is finished” until he says, “it is Friday.”

… and neither can we.

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27)