Youth Ministry And The Hope For The Future Church

In a recent article on CNN.com called, "STUDY: Young Americans Less Religious Than There Parents", it says younger American's are significantly less religious than their parents and grandparents were at the same age.

It also says that many characterize their beliefs as "atheist", "agnostic", or "nothing in particular".

Later it flip-flops and says that many of their beliefs are the same as previous generations!?! (Read whole article to see.)

Anyway, I just want to remind you that as youth pastors, youth leaders, student ministry leaders - or whatever you call yourself - that your job has a HUGE impact on the hope for the future church.

I started youth ministry when I was around 19 years old and was involved in it for about 14 years. I stopped youth pastoring at the end of 2002.

And you know what?

The students that were in my group are now the adults. They make up the 20-30's demographic in the churches they are a part of today! (Those who are still following God.)

Don't get me wrong. You're students are a part of the church NOW. But they will be the adults and the leaders of the future church.

You won't have an influence on their lives forever, but you do now during this key time of their lives. AND if you do the right things, then your ministry can have a "lasting" affect like I talk about in the ebook.

What the future church (the people) believes and thinks about: the inerrancy of the Bible, the gospel, tithing/giving, the church, morality, what is truth or lies, what is right or wrong, etc. WILL be influenced by how you lead them now.

That's why I shared the topics I think every youth pastor should speak on in my Talkboosters e-course. I wish I would've taught more on some of those topics. I wish I would've talked about some of those topics even once!

I'm am REALLY proud of the people who used to be in my group. I'm really proud of how they've turned out.

BUT I can see with some of the previous youth group members that they believe some of the same (incorrect) things that our society believes/promotes. One of the reasons they believe these things is because I didn't focus more on some of these important topics.

Your job matters in their lives now. But it will matter in their future lives and the future church too! When you look at your students don't just see who they are now.

In Joshua 14:4 it says, "for the sons of Joseph had become two tribes Manasseh and Ephraim."

His sons had become tribes! Each of your students will one day be a "tribe". They will have a family and descendants. They will teach someone. Lead someone. Run a business. Run the government.

When you look at your students see who/what they will/could become!

You, as a youth pastor, have a chance to influence the future church and our future society. Don't ever forget that or ever minimize your calling and job.

Your job is so important. Don't take it lightly. Don't take it for granted.

Pray for wisdom. Pray for your students.
Preach the truth from God's word.
Build deep relationships with them.
Improve yourself. Improve your ministry.

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P.S. If you need or want help, then I'm starting some coaching with a group of youth pastors. Together we want to help you take yourself and your group to the next level.

If you're interested at all, you can watch a free recording of my Vision-Cast virtual training session that I did on Tuesday, 2/23 @ 10:30am PST. It's approx. 40 min. long and then, at the end of the session, I explain about the paid coaching program I'm starting.