More Than Pizza Parties and Pudgy-bunny

Photo by Evelyn on Unsplash

Youth ministry stereotypes abound, and like most stereotypes, they depreciate the value of a critically needed ministry. Next Generation discipleship is essential to fulfilling the mission of the church! Such ministry cannot be done neither effectively, nor affectively, in isolation from the rest of the church, and yet it often is expected to do just that. Multi-generational ministry relationships and mentoring need to be more pervasively employed if our churches are going to be healthy and growing in love.

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph. 4:15-16)

Every part needs to be working properly, but too often we don’t expect that our youth can and should be providing something essential to the whole body and we silo them into their own activities, services, and missions as though other generations can get on just fine without them. False. Such approaches lead our youth to think that they are not really part of the body, and so once they graduate from the youth group, they are churchless. Though we too often make youth feel as though they're undocumented aliens, they should have as much ownership in our services and mission as any other generation!

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. (1 Cor. 12:15-16)

The parts of the body described by Paul’s figure of speech are not merely individuals but include all the sub-groups of the congregation be it generations, ethnicities, and genders not just our skills and talents.

In 1 Corinthians 12, St. Paul further addresses how spiritually gifted diversity in unity can function within a congregation. By extension, we should also consider how the “parts of the body” metaphor applies to NextGen ministry. The two major arguments of Paul in this chapter are that we don’t all have the same gift/role/function and it would look monstrous if we did, like Mike Wazowski from Disney’s Monsters, Inc.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

   and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God

                                                       who empowers them all

                                      in everyone.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit

                                               for the common good.” (1 Cor. 12:4-7)

The second argument is that the body is not complete without each part, and each part is not viable without the rest of the body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,”

nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor… (v.21-23)

Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash

It is time that we took these verses to heart and discussed how we need each other and seek to bestow greater honor on others! Such a shared glory paradigm takes the risk to give subsequent generations full participation in the gathered worship of the church—if not every week then with regularity. Are our young people included in prayer meetings and on the worship team? Do they get to work alongside teachers from the time they first show interest? But this critique is not all about the young. How well does the church honor our older members and look for ways that they can continue to be valued participants in the mission of the church? Grey is the color of experience, and of dust. May our elder saints be so active in using their experience—in support of the next generations—for the good of all, that they never gather the dust and doubts of disuse.

But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (v. 24-26)

Youth Ministers face increasingly complicated issues and concerns. Issues that require a depth of understanding, sensitivity, and wisdom that comes from intentional preparation and mentoring. Youth ministers need a biblical and theological depth combined with a relational authenticity that surpasses our stereotypes. So how are we as the church working to come alongside them and support them? Do we dare to ask them what they need and how we can help? One way to do so is to help your youth workers get further training to stay current and fruitful in the mission for the long term.

We believe that Youth Ministry is inseparable from the mission of the church. If you are a senior pastor, I would challenge you to consider subsidizing the costs for your youth leaders to participate in a learning community!

For those who don't know what "pudgy bunny" or "chubby bunny" is, there is Wikipedia and YouTube, of course.