Historical and Theological Trends in Youth Ministry
Editor’s note: The following article has been in process since before our reading and subsequent review of “5 Views on the Future of Youth Ministry.” This article isn’t intended as a response to that book, but it does fit nicely with the questions that book asks. You may want to read that book review in tandem with this following article.
I am currently a 67-year-old youth pastor. My wife and I started working with teenagers in the mid-1970s – and I have been actively involved in youth ministry in a wide variety of ways ever since. That means I have personally experienced some of the major youth ministry trends in the last several decades.
Contemporary youth ministry can be traced back to the 1940’s when visionary and highly-motivated leaders observed the looming youth culture and developed creative and culturally-relevant methods to communicate the Gospel to the next generation. The Lord used people like Jim Rayburn, Torrey Johnson, Jack Wyrtzen, and Percy Crawford and other entrepreneurial trailblazers to launch creative organizations and programs to reach kids for Christ.
Other innovative leaders have stood on their historical shoulders in the eight decades since. These youth ministry giants include people like Henrietta Mears, Lance Latham and Art Rorheim, Mike Yaconelli and Wayne Rice, Thom Schultz, Dann Spader, and Paul Fleischmann. I get it that not all readers will recognize the names listed here. But each person mentioned paved the way for today’s youth workers. If you are interested in the reading more about the history of youth ministry, I would recommend the following works: When God Shows Up: A History of Protestant Youth Ministry in America by Mark Senter III, Reinventing Youth Ministry Again by Wayne Rice, or A Biblical Theology of Youth Ministry by Mike McGarry.
Youth ministry today is going through a much-needed metamorphosis. Every strategy and methodology must be evaluated in the light of Scripture. Certainly, the discipline of youth ministry can be commended for its innovation, energy, and relevancy. Most youth workers understand that they must be students of culture and its influence on emerging generations to effectively impact the lives of teenagers. We can also applaud youth workers for learning how to communicate well to each succeeding generation of young people. It is imperative that theology drives methodology.
The much-reported church departure rate of young adults following their active involvement in church youth group is cited by some as a legitimate criticism of youth ministry. Others blame youth ministry for its “segregation” of teenagers from other generations, and some accuse youth ministry of featuring too much entertainment instead of concentrating on the preaching and teaching of the Bible.
Youth ministry (as we know it) is at a crossroads. Here are some of my observations based off what I’ve seen and am seeing:
1. Youth ministry has moved to the local church
Early youth ministries were mainly parachurch driven, and it took some time for the church to catch up. Organizations like Youth for Christ, Word of Life, and Young Life organized city-wide rallies, and school or home-based clubs. Lately, church-based youth pastors have been the driving force for creativity in youth ministry. Sure, parachurch organizations still exist and do meaningful ministry, but many of today’s youth workers understand that God’s plan for today focuses on getting young people involved in the local church.
2. Youth ministry is concentrating on discipleship
Another positive development in youth ministry has been the movement toward prioritizing discipleship. By and large, youth workers have identified the mandate of the Great Commission to “make disciples,” and they are making that the priority in their ministries. Examples include the current emphasis on small groups and the creation of discipleship groups within the structure of many youth ministries.
3. Youth ministry is emphasizing preaching & the importance of Biblical literacy
As youth ministry evolved from the early days of evangelistic youth rallies in large stadiums, to “clubs” meetings in homes, to “fun and games” approaches – youth ministry has been known for its obsession with cultural relevance. Visionary youth leaders had the reputation for being cool and edgy. They had the ability to attract kids through their programming and “pied piper” personalities. But many eventually realized that teenagers needed more than entertainment and programming. They need to hear, study, and learn the Word of God. They need the life and grace that only comes through faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Youth ministry is becoming inter-generational
Historical youth ministry has been characterized by an emphasis on adolescents to the exclusion of other age groups in the church. Recent developments in youth ministry indicate that churches are beginning to realize it is not wise to exclusively separate teenagers from the overall life of the church. This approach encourages churches to view teenagers as valuable family members. I wrote on this subject in my book, Inter-Generational Youth Ministry: Why a Balanced View of Connecting the Generations is Essential for the Church.
5. Youth ministry is turning to real ministry and not merely programming
There has been a resurgence of interest in involving teenagers in ministry on a regular basis in their home churches - and not just when they are away from home on their annual missions trip. Many youth workers are now working hard to help their young people discover and use their spiritual gifts in various ministry capacities in their home churches.
Youth ministry is indeed at a crossroads. It’s time to make sure that our youth ministries are built on a solid biblical and theological foundation. Our youth ministry forefathers taught us how to look at cultural trends as a conduit for innovative programs and methods. We can learn from that, but let’s make sure that the Scriptures are the basis for what we do and how we do it.