What is Youth Ministry?
Andy Disher through out this question last night on Facebook and it has produced quite a response. My friend and fellow Birminghamer Andy Blanks of YM360 fame also commented and suggested several of us blog about it. I though that was a great idea.
Initially, I said youth ministry was someone being Jesus to a teen. It’s comprehensive and short, which I like, but it doesn’t inspire. Others went the direction of saying what it is not. According to them, it isn’t: babysitting, a holding tank with pizza, or a replacement for parents. I agree with all of those, but they only negate a few paradigms. Instead of going for the vague route, I am going to provide several situations that I think describe it better.
The Peer
Youth ministry a lot of the times looks like one teen encouraging another. I love this kind of youth ministry and see it often enough that I know God uses everyone to minister to others. For some reason, most people think of youth ministry as adults serving youth. A better view sees teens as ministers and encourages them in their specific gifting.
The Artist
Another youth ministry I see revolves around affinity. I often ask students what they think they will be doing in heaven. It seems clear that God made us all unique and that we are driven by something deep within us. Whatever medium we use, following a personal desire into mastery is art. In youth ministry, this happens when a young adult finds out specifically how they are God’s masterpiece. The beauty of this ministry reveals itself not in what youth make, but in them being personal works of art themselves.
The Life-Investor
The life-investor youth ministry imagines the long road. It doesn’t stop the relationships built in adolescence at any point such as graduation. Instead it continues to pour into believers well into adulthood and beyond. What I love about this model is when a former student becomes a peer with a leader. I don’t see this one often enough (maybe because it takes so long), but its worth surpasses its rarity. There is nothing like seeing a former follower become a fellow worker.
These are just a few ideas of what youth ministry is. For more be sure to check out Andy Disher’s site The Inner Musings and Phil Bell‘s Youthwork Talk. Both have agreed to write about this idea.
Update: Andy has taken up the call over at YM360. Read his excellent article here.
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