Thoughts on Young People's Ministry

I've been very blessed in my new appointment to get actively involved in ministries with children and youth, and so I've had opportunity to think through and share my thoughts on these ministries.  After I shared my thoughts to a group discussing children's ministry, one of the participants asked me to share them more broadly.  So here we go.

Why are ministries with young people important, and who should be involved in ministries to young people?

Psalm 78 recites the story of God's redemptive work throughout Hebrew history.  Before the story is told, the psalmist says, "We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done (Psalm 78:4)."

I have a Jewish uncle.  He almost completely abandoned practice of Judaism after his Bar Mitzvah. But when he had children, he was absolutely insistent that they go to Hebrew school, prepare for Bat Mitzvah, celebrate holidays, etc. When I asked him why, he said, "I'm part of a people who have had this faith for thousands of years. I don't have the right to take it away from my children."

We live in a time when many children, including children who are raised in homes that consider themselves "Christian," no longer know the basics of the faith. They have never sung "Amazing Grace" or "Jesus Loves Me This I Know." They don't know John 3:16. The don't know who Jesus was, or that he died on a cross, or that Easter is about his resurrection, or even that Christmas is about the celebration of his birth. They've never heard of the Ten Commandments and certainly have no idea what they are. It's hard for those of us who grew up in Christian culture to comprehend, but please trust me that this is true.

These things are precious to us and they were offered to us as a gift from others.  We have no right to hide them from our children.  And all children are God's children. Young people's ministry is EVERYONE'S responsibility.

We take this responsibility upon ourselves every time a child is baptized in our gathering.  We promise to "surround this child with a community of love and forgiveness, that s/he may grow in his/her service to others. We will pray for him/her that s/he may be a true disciple who walk in the way that leads to life."  This is a promise for the whole community. Young people's ministry is not the work of a staff person, a children's council, a few ladies, or the parents of the children alone.  Ministries with young people are a central task of the entire community of faith, every single person. Not everyone is suited to lead a children's moment or lead a small group. But everyone can do something (even if it's taking out the garbage during VBS) to strengthen ministries with young people and insure that the congregation keeps its promise.

I firmly believe that it is wrong for clergy to absolve themselves of responsibility for young people's ministry by shuffling off the work of children's ministry or youth ministry to a children's ministry or youth ministry staff person.  These staff people are necessary and important and churches must employ them in order to allow clergy to do the many things that they must do.  But a pastor is called to be a pastor to all the people.

In our United Methodist ordination charge, we are asked, "Will you diligently instruct the children in every place?"  We say that we will.  In part, the keeping of this promise means that we will organize the congregation to make sure that children are being nurtured in faith in Jesus Christ.  But it also means that children and teenagers know their pastor, that even in the largest church, we take the time to be present in young people's ministries and develop relationships with kids.  I think it's important for pastors to teach confirmation, to show up for football games, to stick their heads into children's Sunday school classes, to play on the church lawn.  Our tradition has determined for us that these ministries are a priority for us.

Whose job is young people's ministry?  Who is supposed to work in children's ministry and youth ministry?  EVERYONE.  We all have a part.  We all have a responsibility. We all have the gift to offer the love of Christ and pass on the gift of the Gospel to emerging generations.