The Future of Youth Ministry

My youth ministry career began in 1969.  I had graduated from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois (Now Concordia Chicago) and my placement was Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  My wife was called as the second grade teacher and I was to serve at director of youth ministry.  At that point in time full-time youth ministers were rare.  There were only two of us serving Lutheran Churches in the whole state of Missouri and he was on the other side of state in Kansas City.  The only other person in the town of Cape Girardeau doing youth ministry was Charles Haley who served at the Baptist Church.  We became good friends, but had to travel to another town thirty miles away to meet.  We knew even being seen together would start a controversy.

Youth ministry was very different in those days.  No internet so I ordered resources from a catalog.  No social media so I sent out postcards and depend on a telephone tree to get the word out to the kids.  Youth ministry took place on Sunday.  We had Bible class in the morning and youth group at night.  If someone did not show up the kids all knew and reminded them of it the next time day at school.  We had a youth center and it was open on Wednesday and Saturday nights for the kids from church and community.  There was no need to reach out because kids gravitated to us.

I recently thought of all the changes that have taken place since then when I read an article on Churchleaders.com on the future of youth ministry.  One emerging trend is the movement toward missional communities.  It appears the days of kids gathering in the church youth room are numbered.  So is the Sunday morning youth Bible class and even the traditional youth night.  As church budget’s decline the ability to support a full-time DCE or youth pastor is become less of an option.  As a result churches are relying more on part-time workers and volunteers. 

The one thing that has not changed is the importance of relationships.  I had a close bond with the kids in that first youth group.  I was a listening ear and the one they turned to when they were hurting.  I also helped them deal with the tough issues.  Back in those days it was the Viet Nam war and drugs.  Today’s teens struggle with sexual identity and depression/suicide.  What the church still needs is more adults who will step up and mentor teens and young adults.  Youth ministry might be different but teens still need Jesus.   The call is for all of us to play that role.