My background is church youth ministry. I spent twenty-five years ministering to kids and their families at four different churches. I still stay in touch with youth ministry folks. Youth ministry has changed a lot over the years. Telephone trees have given way to texting and on-line chats. DVD's shown on big screens have replaced the old 16 mm projectors. Yes, I really did have a class in college where they taught us how to properly thread a projector and maintain a record turntable.
While the ministry is very different, one problem has remained. I still hear my young colleagues complain about the fall-off in participation among olders teens. "We spend two years training leaders only to have us desert us when we need them," one area DCE complained.
The assumption has always been that when teens turn sixteen and begin to drive they have more freedom. The freedom allows more options and often church youth group moves down the list of priorities. We have also blamed the increased academic and athletic demands as a possible cause.
I would like to focus on the issue to needs. High school juniors and seniors have very different needs than younger teens. During the last two years of high school teens begin to focus on the future. They begin to make plans on college and career. Many pick-up part-time jobs in order to not to just gain extra cash but work experience. They also are entering a new stage in their faith development. Young teens still have a synthetic faith, clinging to the beliefs they learned in Sunday school and confirmation class. Older teens are moving into a time of individual - reflective faith. They are molding and shaping their beliefs into a relationship with God that is more personal.
Parents, pastors and youth ministry professionals need to be aware of these changing needs and adjust their expectations and
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