Critical Question

As we move closer to 2009 and as I move into my fourth year as Youth Pastor here at Bible Baptist Church I find myself asking some significant and important questions about the effectiveness of our Youth Ministry. Are we really being successful? Are we truly instilling in teenagers a love for God and His Word, or have we simply become a glorified babysitter and travel agent who entertain and patronize teenagers into a life of comfort and apathy? If we are being successful, how do we define that success? What is the measurable product of a successful Youth Ministry? If I had to give our current Youth Ministry a grade it would not be a high one; perhaps a C- or maybe even a D+. Sure we provide a lot of activity, sing good songs, and teach relevant lessons, but are we really impacting teenager’s lives in such a significant way that they become passionate about serving Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength? I think not. So then the question that begs asking is “How do we improve?” Obviously it will not happen overnight, but a change must be made. Right now I have more questions than answers, but as we move into the New Year I am seriously evaluating our Youth Ministry and will begin to make some significant changes over the next 6-12 months. Perhaps you have an observation or suggestion you would like to share as you think about our Youth Ministry and how to improve it. Please pass it along to me and share honestly about the needs of your family and teenagers. Here are some of the questions I have been asking myself lately; maybe they will stimulate your thinking.

Why do we do what we do and is it the best way to do it?
What role should the family play in Youth Ministry and how do we make our ministry more family oriented?
What role should the Church play in Youth Ministry?
Should we have segregated Sunday School for teenagers or combine them with their families?
How do we more effectively engage and inspire teenagers to live godly lives?
How can we be more deliberate and intentional in our programming and teaching?
What resources may be helpful in implementing change?
How do we instill godliness that transcends the teenage years?

Once we get past the holidays I would like to host a Think Tank for parents of teenagers who would like to brainstorm together about how we can improve our Youth Ministry. Right now I am looking at either Saturday, January 10 or Saturday, January 17 as possible dates for this meeting. If you are interested in being a part of this Think Tank then please contact me and let me know so I can pass along more details as they become available. I will come prepared to provide discussion guides and conversation starters as we dialogue together about how to do a better job discipling our teenagers. Please pray for me as I think through a comprehensive approach on how to do Youth Ministry more effectively.

The future looks bright!