A couple weeks ago, I posted a 4-part series on youth worship. The response to those posts was very positive, and several readers wrote me offline with questions regarding the purpose of a youth group, and whether its existence is justified at all.
In America, the youth group exists. It is unwise to see the current problems in youth ministry and demand that we do away completely with youth groups. Yet, we need to reevaluate the purpose of a youth group. It’s time to move from attraction-based models of youth ministry to mission-based models.
Today, I am posting some thoughts on attraction-based youth groups, including many of the problems that plague them. Next week, be on the look-out for my description of a mission-based youth group, and what that should look like.
A Mission-Based Youth Group
I believe the best way to ground young people in the Word and to empower them for future ministry is to involve them in a mission-based youth group. By mission-based, I am not implying that the teenagers would be going on monthly mission trips or doing weekly door-to-door evangelism. I use the term “mission-based” to describe the attitude and mindset of the teenagers.
The Failed Attraction-based Model
Too many youth groups today are “attraction-based.” The youth minister focuses on organizing events in order to attract the youth to the services. The goal of this model is noble. Big events and fun activities do indeed serve as a successful evangelistic tool and can greatly help young people get involved in church. The Bible affirms the use of many methodologies to bring people to God. As Mary Poppins sang, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”
The problem that some attraction-based models face is that too often the events themselves become the ends and not the means. Success is defined by the size of the crowd, not by the fruit seen in the lives of those in attendance. Furthermore, when the attraction becomes the end goal and not the means to an end, those who attend are usually left with just a “spoonful of sugar” and no medicine at all. The sweetness may attract a crowd, but the church is no longer offering anything of substantial spiritual value.
Another potential problem that attraction-based models often confront is the professionalism of the attractions themselves. When the church tries to attain the same level of professionalism as the world when it comes to entertainment (movies, music, events), we usually fail and wind up looking cheesy. If it is our music or movie-making or dramatic abilities that are going to bring people to church, we are in trouble! The world will almost always beat us at these things.
That said, I do not advocate a retreat from the world in the areas of art, music, or movies. God, give us great movie-makers, great musicians and bands and terrific events! He knows we (and the world) can benefit from them. My point is this: the church must offer something above and beyond the glitz and glamour if we are going to effectively reach the youth culture for Christ. We have the Gospel – something the world does not have!
Next week, I’ll be going into more detail about what a mission-based youth group should look like. Stay tuned.
written by Trevin Wax. © 2007 Kingdom People Blog