I know for me growing up I believed that youth ministry happened on Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings , and yes back then Sunday nights as well. But it never occurred to me that ministry to youth could happen anywhere. Because that is the root meaning of the phrase. It does not mean a cool room or fun activities. It just means ministering to youth where they are and helping them experience life change.
Because of this fact we have to realize that this type of ministry can happen anywhere and anyone can do it. I know, that is a crushing blow to all of our egos. But I am not saying you are not needed. Instead what I am saying is that we cannot be so short sighted to think that we are the only ones who can reach teenagers. Our leaders can, the parents in our church can, and most importantly the youth in our ministry can.
That is why we need to make sure that we are doing two things. First of all we need to make sure that we are clearly communicating the vision to our leaders and to our youth that they are themselves ministers. And they need to know that this ministry can happen anytime, anywhere. Second, we need to equip them to do this ministry. Give them resources they can use to reach others. Make sure that you do not just throw big ideas out without giving people training in how to carry out those big ideas. For example, if you talk about the importance of sharing the Gospel, demonstrate how to actually go out and share the Gospel.
This idea may be the most important thing we need to grasp as student pastors. Because as Jesus taught, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few." There are so many youth in this generation that need to be reached. Continually studies show that at our current rate only 4% of this generation will follow Christ. Something has to change and we cannot change it all on our own. We have to empower and equip those we minister to so that they can go out and change the world around them.
Because of this fact we have to realize that this type of ministry can happen anywhere and anyone can do it. I know, that is a crushing blow to all of our egos. But I am not saying you are not needed. Instead what I am saying is that we cannot be so short sighted to think that we are the only ones who can reach teenagers. Our leaders can, the parents in our church can, and most importantly the youth in our ministry can.
That is why we need to make sure that we are doing two things. First of all we need to make sure that we are clearly communicating the vision to our leaders and to our youth that they are themselves ministers. And they need to know that this ministry can happen anytime, anywhere. Second, we need to equip them to do this ministry. Give them resources they can use to reach others. Make sure that you do not just throw big ideas out without giving people training in how to carry out those big ideas. For example, if you talk about the importance of sharing the Gospel, demonstrate how to actually go out and share the Gospel.
This idea may be the most important thing we need to grasp as student pastors. Because as Jesus taught, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few." There are so many youth in this generation that need to be reached. Continually studies show that at our current rate only 4% of this generation will follow Christ. Something has to change and we cannot change it all on our own. We have to empower and equip those we minister to so that they can go out and change the world around them.
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