As I left my final week as leader of the youth and children’s work at Word Alive, someone asked me if that was my last bit of youth ministry.
After 50 years perhaps it should be, but I will be teaching at a discipleship week at The Oakes in July. The next thing I said shocked even me: ‘It will always be on my agenda’. After all this time you can’t just switch off your passion to see young people discipled in a local church context – that’s what I passionately believe in.
Into the business
So I wonder if it’s on your agenda? For some churches it is a key part of what they are seeking to do. When you had your annual meeting you received a report of all that’s going on amongst children and youth. Or were there so many ‘business’ items on the agenda that anything to do with ministry had to wait until 9:30 pm when everybody was exhausted. If churches with any kind of under 19s’ ministry don’t bring that ministry into the central core of the church’s business and ministry that group of leaders may well feel isolated.
Prayer updates and small groups
But there are other ways of getting it on the church agenda. Information is vital and, if the church has a bulletin each Sunday, then any updates and prayer points for the church are helpful in keeping what is happening in people’s minds. So often youth ministry can be reduced to a sideshow or a babysitting service, whereas it should be seen as an integral part of current ministry – not the church of tomorrow.
Another place are any small groups you may have. It’s good that small groups of believers meet for fellowship and Bible studies but there can be dangers that the group only looks inward to its own needs, important as those are. But if every home group looked to its youth group and asked if they could pray for one Sunday School leader or one youth activity, much good could come from it. The leaders (and the children) would be blessed and there would be a greater understanding in the group of what is happening.
No young people?
But some may say ‘we don’t have any children or young people’. Sad as that is, you do have some children in your area. Why not pray for them or, even better, pray for your local school and for the staff and children. Perhaps there are ways you could support the school (I knew of one church who made cakes for parents’ meetings).
It is my view that children and youth should be on all our agendas and there are things we can do. Active leaders need support and prayer. You may even be able to go in and mend things in the crèche when they get broken. Don’t assume that all youth ministers have to be totally culturally aware and under 25. I know some very good leaders in their 50s and 60s. Why not put children on your agenda, which I shall continue to do.
