Today I was asked the question, “Where do I see the youth
ministry going in 2016”?
Now I can only speak from my experience serving with the
youth ministry of our own local church; given that, there are two major areas I
believe will be key for 2016 as it relates to youth ministry.
For the past 3 years our church has not had a youth pastor.
This fact was and still is problematic for many parents and leaders. Yet in
spite of the absence of a pastor the youth ministry leadership team has stepped
up to not only fill that void but has also fostered the implementation of some
things, that quite honestly may not have happened were a youth pastor in place.
It seems that necessity IS the mother of invention. This situation has shown
itself as a positive however, causing an influx of spiritual life and growth
within the ministry. And I believe it signals one of two significant areas of change.
1) I
believe that 2016 will bring a complete structure change to traditional youth
ministry. We will see a more entrepreneurial attitude in the youth. There will
be more of a focus on what goes on outside the four walls of the youth ministry
and the larger church. Youth will begin to seek opportunities to be used in
ministry – giving out what has been put in them, vs. receiving what we’ve
traditionally offered them. This shift will see young people become the new
agents of the ministry and not the ministry’s focus, that focus will be shifted
outward.
On the heels of this dynamic, or possibly as a result of; we
are seeing more youth (specifically our young adults) step into leadership
roles as those in “control” of the youth ministry make them available. More and
more youth are no longer content to watch their leaders live out an example of
Christian faith and witness; they (the youth) want to live out their own faith.
Willingly embracing the “learning curve” that comes with being proactive in
ministry. Today’s youth don’t want to be taught so much as guided along their
own journey. To put it another way; the youth are going swimming in deep
waters, they won’t wear life-jackets (their too restrictive) but they are
asking us to be watchful life guards.
2) I
believe that 2016 will see more youth take a leadership role through various
avenues (Again as the current leadership provides opportunities). These roles
will manifest in (but not limited to):
a. Creative
teams assigned to special projects, anything from event planning to ministry
outreaches to crafting the very ministry services within the larger church.
b. Areas
of service within the larger church body. We will see greater integration of
our youth in positions that traditionally were held for adults only. I see this
as a renewal of mentoring and discipleship.
c. Outside
ministries and community involvement in various social causes. This is key,
because if we fail to create avenues for our youth to serve, be used and grow;
they will gravitate to those who will. The adage "If you don’t use it you lose
it" holds true here. We need to remember the
youth will be the church in a
handful of years. We cannot afford to lose them due to lack of opportunity!
In closing; I see these two major areas as coloring youth
ministry in 2016. Old models and methodologies must be let go if we hope to
accomplish God's goals for this year.we shouldn't fear this change - it is for the better, I am anticipating great things happening in youth ministry.
As a leader I am reminded that it must be my goal to not only allow change to
happen, but to be (one of many) a driving force behind that change. Our youth –
the future leaders of the church, deserve no less!
Luther.
