Rethinking Attractional Youth Ministry
Reformed and gospel-centered youth workers often talk against “attractional ministry,” but I’m not always sure we actually know what we’re talking about. For many, attractional ministry is simply ministry. It’s just what you were trained to do because it’s what you’ve experienced.
Attractional ministry is an approach that uses fun and games and other “attractions” to draw students into the front door. Once students are on the “inside,” then you get to know them and try to win them to Christ. Since they’ve had fun, they’ll be more likely to return. There’s a commendable emphasis on evangelism and the Great Commission.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a significant rift between reformed youth workers and the attractional majority. Suspicion runs deep, from both camps towards the other. As someone who has lived and learned from both groups, my goal in this article is to help youth workers evaluate their attractional tendencies.
There was a period of time in my ministry when I felt pressure to perform and excel every week. When youth group began, it was showtime. It was exhausting and soul-sucking - for me, for my volunteers, and even for the students. Here are a few reasons why I have left attractional ministry behind.
“What you win them with is what you win them to.”
This line has found new life in reformed circles after it was credited to Jared Wilson in a recent episode of the popular The Fall and Rise of Mars Hill podcast. But I heard it in college nearly twenty years ago, and I’ve heard it attributed to so many people I’ve lost count. This phrase has been repeated so many times because its truthfulness is so obvious. If students come because the youth group is fun, they’ll eventually be less-impressed and you’ll need to kick the fun to the next level. And then the next level. And then again.
Attractional ministry is like trying to outrun a merry-go-round while needing to push it at the same time. You simply can’t get ahead, by design. It might be a lot of fun in the moment, but eventually you’ll run out of steam. As I’ve written previously, there is a place for fun and games in youth ministry, but it has more to do with shaping a gospel-culture than it does with attracting non believers to attend.
Parents matter more than youth pastors do
To say it plainly: I’m a youth pastor who believes in youth ministry, but I’m utterly convinced (by Scripture and by sociology) that parents are more spiritually significant than youth pastors. That doesn’t mean youth pastors have no impact and churches should let their youth pastors go. But it does mean that youth pastors who only minister to students, without spending a significant amount of their energy on encouraging and equipping parents to disciple their children, are short-sighted and misusing their time. It’s a beautiful and powerful thing when youth ministries forge intentional partnerships with parents to co-evangelize and co-disciple the next generation. Telling students, “One of our goals is to help you and your parents talk more and create meaningful memories in the church together” isn’t a great way to attract students (especially nonChristians) - and this is a major reason why youth ministries have talked about the value of partnering with parents far longer than we’ve actually been committed to doing it.
Jesus was attractive but not attractional
I’ve heard youth workers argue that Jesus was attractional: “Look at Jesus’ miracles! He drew large crowds and was a viral celebrity in his culture. He did these things to draw a crowd and then he preached the gospel to them. That’s what we’re trying to do, too!”
Yes, Jesus’ miracles were attractive. The crowds gathered around him. He was undoubtedly a polarizing teacher. But when the crowd followed him because of his miracles, Jesus rebuked them and taught hard teachings that drove them away (John 6:26-66). He spoke in parables to confuse the crowds while only explaining their meaning to his disciples (Matthew 13:10-17). And he urged the recipients of his miracles to not tell people that he’s the messiah (Mark 1:43-45, 8:27-30) because he knew the crowds would prohibit him from ministering to those in need. Remember, Jesus had no place to lay his head (Matthew 8:19-20). His ministry was simple, and it was built on proclaiming the kingdom of God. Ours should be too.
There’s no doubt Jesus was a compelling figure. As his ministry expanded, so did the crowds. But his miracles never preceded his teaching - they were always done in order to confirm his authority. Jesus rejected would-be disciples and seemed to avoid crowds. The notion that Jesus would be in favor of excessive production values or gross food games in order to get students in the door reflects a reader’s commitment to attractional ministry more than it does Jesus' life and ministry.
Mixed messages about the gospel
Busy and harried youth workers set a confusing example for students. We proclaim the power and faithfulness of God, and yet they see us placing the burden of ministry on our shoulders. We say the gospel is an invitation to rest, but we seem stressed and exhausted. We tell them the gospel is for anyone who knows their need for a savior, but needy students feel like a burden and kids who misbehave feel their youth leaders’ disdain. And we preach that salvation is by faith alone, but we’re working awfully hard and are full of advice about how they should live their best life now. Youth workers who live in light of the gospel will lead their ministries in a way that reflects the gospel they proclaim.
The most painful awakening I had in this regard was during a “Night of Awesomeness” where we played all sorts of typical youth group games. One part of the night featured gross games: bobbing for tootsie rolls in a bedpan filled with mountain dew, challenging a student to eat a “happy shake” (a Happy Meal mixed in a blender), and even a gag that involved tricking a student into eating frozen mayonnaise. One of my student leaders invited a few nonChristian friends, so I asked her what they thought. She said they wouldn’t be back, “Why would I want to come to a group that treats each other like that?” This was a wake up call for me to realize the culture of our group had come into conflict with the gospel we talked so much about.
If we believe the gospel is the greatest news we have to share, shouldn’t we always keep it front and center? Fun and games are not the enemy, but it’s time to stop obscuring the gospel by trying to deliver it alongside anything that sends a mixed message. It’s time to stop trying to attract students with anything other than the gospel. Teenagers are hungry for meaning and purpose. They crave meaningful relationships with adults who will actually listen to them. And they know there’s something broken inside of them, and in their world. May we, like Paul, decide “to know nothing among [students] except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
