Four Erroneous Youth Ministry Philosophies Part 3

This is the third and final post in the Four Erroneous Youth Ministry Philosophies series.  Sections three and four represent ministry approaches based on program and personality.  Youth ministries need a program as well as leadership with personality; however, both function best when founded on Biblical principles.

Section Three:

“All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go – Buttoned Up and Tied Down Ministry Style”

“We are going to buy ourselves a youth ministry” is the mantra of the youth leader who is engrossed in a “package program” ministry style.  This type of mindset is carried out frequently online and in bookstores across the nation. There are a plethora of publishers and organizations that produce endless curriculum.  So we plunk down the cash or type in our credit card number with great anticipation of receiving the new material.

We need a miracle and maybe this new material will be more than paper, vinyl, DVD or download. Maybe it will be “magic.” Maybe if we rub the outside of the package, a genie will appear who is capable of revolutionizing our youth group.

Leaders must be responsible when purchasing materials and should set a high standard and criterion for the curriculum. The criteria should include strong Biblical content, culturally relevant topics, student involvement and contribute to the overall strategy.

I call another approach in this category the “us four and no more” ministry style. Our world is filled with exclusive “members only” groups. These groups are marked by their rules, cliques or indifference. They are little “sub-cultures” of society and teens experience them at school or in their neighborhoods. There is no place for this mindset in our churches.

Section Four

“The World According to Me – Personality Profile Ministry Style”

Some youth ministries are built on a youth pastor or leader. His or her personality, speaking, music abilities or whatever, are the driving force behind the youth group. Obviously we need leaders with personality, but ministry should never be build upon one person.

Personality-centered youth ministries usually have a short shelf life because the personality is often transient. Another concern with this approach is the lack of multiplication of discipleship. A leader who thinks he or she can disciple the entire youth group is delusional. Proper discipleship will call for multiple strong leaders, not just one show-horse.

I want to address one last erroneous approach and this one is deadly. This approach is called “pass the blame.” Turmoil is a focal characteristic of this approach as neither the parents nor the youth leaders will assume responsibility for the spiritual growth of the students. In some cases they are more concerned about who gets blamed than they are for the student.

I believe parents have first responsibility for their own child, but the church cannot negate their responsibility. A healthy youth ministry functions with parents and leaders working together, both taking responsibility and contributing to the spiritual training.

So there you have it, four approaches to youth ministry. This is not exhaustive, but it gives some of the ministry styles I have personally witnessed. My ministry is about partnering with churches to build Principle-Centered ministries.My desire is that we would all have 2 Timothy 2:2 ministries of “reproducing reproducers.”

(For other blog posts on leadership, student ministry or spiritual growth, check out the archive section)