Invest or Investigate?

Four signs that reveal what your church thinks about youth ministry

“Is it true you burned a hole into the gym floor during youth group?”

How’s that for the opening of a meeting with your boss?! Or how about this one, “Were you allowing students to throw water balloons out of the church van?” Or…well, I better stop there. I could easily fill this post with questions asked to me in 20 years of local church youth ministry about events or “incidents” in youth ministry, but because of legal reasons and the statute of limitations in some states, I better not!

If you’ve been around youth ministry for any length of time, you know it’s messy.  Not necessarily literally (although it often is that too) but figuratively.  It’s unpredictable, crazy, intense, etc.  This is what’s so appealing to those of us who stubbornly believe that investment in young people’s lives is worth it.  Students are open books when they know they can trust you.  And when they open up their life, it’s real.  It’s raw.  It’s…messy.

But God likes messy.  He came to our mess and wants to clean it up.

And when it comes to youth ministry, He wants us to join in stepping into the mess and watch the redemption miraculously happen.

Some churches get this and will invest in youth ministry and some don’t.  Some only know about what’s happening in the youth ministry because they hear of issues and then begin to investigate.

Some understand the messiness of ministry with students and some don’t get this at all.  Some want spiffy youth facilities with no scuffs and some understand the “lived in” feel of a youth room where students actually use the joint.  Some want to reach students that already know how to behave in “church” instead of students who need the real, raw, powerful Jesus to show them the way to live.

PAYING THE PRICE OF OUTREACH

I heard John Maxwell say years ago, “Do we want to be keepers of the aquarium, or fishers of men?”

I would ask the same of churches when it comes to students.  Who are you trying to reach? And if you say you want to reach students who don’t know the risen Jesus, are you willing to pay the price to do this? Because there is a heavy price to pay to do this. The price comes in many forms: financial, reputation, resources, time, etc.

GETTING AROUND NEEDS OR GETTING REAL WITH THEM

Do you know how marvelously dangerous it is to have students get real about what’s going on in their life? Again, this is what’s so fantastic about young people, they aren’t afraid to take off the mask and reveal their need. When this happens, it can easily threaten status quo ministry. But those of us that serve on behalf of students have seen the transforming power of the Gospel in these real life, real time scenarios.

So, let me share 4 telltale signs that reveal what your church believes about youth ministry. And rest assured, talk is cheap. If you want to know if your church truly values young people, these will prove it.

1. BUDGET

In his book, “Entre-Leadership,” Dave Ramsey talks about speaking up in a meeting after hearing about the values of a particular ministry in this certain local church.  He publicly questioned how they could state that they value this ministry and not give it hardly any line item budget money to back up this “valued” ministry.  His point: they can’t.

If a church values youth ministry, there will be financial resources behind it. Period.  Many great leaders have left and are leaving vocational student ministry because they just can’t afford it. Many youth ministries have no room to meet in because there’s no place for them in their church facility.  Many students can’t attend trips because there are no scholarships to support them.

Churches that truly believe in youth ministry will have the BUDGET to prove it. This is the most tangible way they can show it.

2. UNDERSTANDING

Broken chairs, scuff marks, weird hours, unusual circumstances. All of these surround real, messy Kingdom work with students. Local churches that know this, understand it. They realize that worn-in facilities, non-office hour work, and out of the box situations come with reaching students. They don’t sweat having to fix “stuff” in the building or that the youth pastor isn’t in the office early because she was dealing with a crisis the night before until late.

Churches that truly believe in youth ministry will UNDERSTAND that messiness comes with the territory. This is the most pragmatic way they can show it.

3. SUPPORT

We’ve covered financial, so that’s not the kind of support I’m talking about. When a church supports youth & youth ministry, many subtle nuances exist. Who gets preferred treatment when a scheduling conflict happens? Are students encouraged regularly in weekend services? Do people have an overall favorable opinion of the youth ministry at your church, or more of a critical one?

Youth ministry is front-line Kingdom work. It needs the support of the local church from which it stems. Hours are long, pay is short (Pay, what pay?!), and students aren’t great at saying “Thanks” many times.

Churches that truly believe in youth ministry will show their SUPPORT in multiple tangible ways. This is the most functional way they can show it.

4. PRAYER

“Prayer is not the least we can do, it’s the most”.  I heard a friend of mine say this recently. How true. Prayer shouldn’t be last on the list because it’s an afterthought. Prayer is THE most valuable way a church shows their support. Is there a foundation of prayer around your youth ministry at your church? Are youth workers regularly prayed for? Students?

Sadly, some churches prayer list may only include greater weekend attendance and increased giving. Prayer in general needs to grow in intensity in churches. And prayer for youth ministry needs to be right up there on the list. If you’re a wise youth worker, you probably already realize that you will need to mobilize this prayer effort yourself for your students; no one will do it for you.  (Hint, hint)

Churches that truly believe in youth ministry will PRAY for their youth ministry. This is the most important way they can show it.

Does your church INVEST IN or only INVESTIGATE your youth ministry?  If they invest, say thank you.  If they tend to investigate, then be a part of the solution by showing the priceless value of this investment in our future.

Jeff Eckart, CEO
Never The Same

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