29 March, 2024

Windows of Youth Ministry

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by | 9 November, 2008 | 0 comments

By Curtis Booher and Phyllis Fox

 

In the rapidly changing culture of adolescents, one thing has remained the same over the generations””the nature of teenagers. Students of the current millennial generation are struggling to find their identity, purpose, and direction in life, to be independent of their parents, and to find love. These same struggles have confronted students in every generation. 

The big questions remain the same: Who am I? Where am I going? Why am I here?

But there are also many characteristics unique to students growing up in the new millennium. It is important to understand the unique features of these particular adolescents in order to have an effective ministry with them.

 

A Disclaimer

Nevertheless, we are keenly aware that the delineation of generations is somewhat arbitrary. Understanding each particular generation has definitely enhanced our own ministry with students. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. One of the past trends of youth ministry that many contemporary youth ministries are trying to overcome is the separation of youth from the rest of the church.

Many youth workers now realize it is imperative for young people to have intergenerational relationships. Segmentation can be unhealthy if it is not practiced with self-consciousness and humility. It is dangerous to use the information gathered by those who study generations as license to split up the family of God.

The church may not need a worship service or sermon series or ministry that appeals to one or another age group. It may be far more important to create within the hearts of the young and old the desire to welcome those who are different from them. And so we offer some windows into this particular generation of students with the hope that the insight will help accomplish the goal of reconciliation that is inherent in the gospel.

 

Windows to the Millennial Generation

The millennial generation is a term that has been used to describe the generation of Americans born from 1982 to 2002. It should be noted that these dates are debated. The name millennials was coined by William Strauss and Neil Howe in their 1991 book Generations. By all reports, the millennial generation promises to be the largest generation in American history, surpassing even the 78 million baby boomers.

Dr. Tim Elmore, founder and president of Growing Leaders Inc., offers the following list of characteristics that has been drawn from research conducted by numerous organizations. (This research, and more, may be accessed at www.growingleaders.com.)

They love family. In a recent annual survey of U.S. teenagers, students were asked, “Who is your hero?” For the first time in 20 years, the No. 1 response was not an athlete. No. 1 was mom and dad. No. 2 was grandma and grandpa.

They are confident. Millennials believe they can make a difference. Many already boast about their power and potential, even as kids. In one recent study, 82 percent of college students said they believed the next “Bill Gates” was in their generation. Fifty-one percent said they believed they knew the next “Bill Gates.” Twenty-four percent said they believed they are the next “Bill Gates.”

They are mediavores. These students are addicted to media. It”s not uncommon for them to do homework, listen to a CD, watch TV, and interact online, all at the same time. They give new meaning to multitasking. They like fast-paced images in commercials and they love the rush of high-speed Internet searches, text messaging their buddies, or locating their friends on MySpace or Facebook. No doubt, there is a danger to their familiarity with technology.

They are global. This generation promises to build relationships all over the world. They will be the most mobile group ever. They have itchy feet and want to travel, just like they have on the Internet. Young people want to experience a new culture and what life looks like around the world. Fifty percent of the millennial generation surveyed plan to take some college courses overseas.

They are pressured. Schedules are tight for them and their parents; they live with stress. Whether it”s pressure from parents, school testing, coaches, or themselves, these students feel the stress of trying to be a “superkid.” They”ve been pushed to make the grade, make the team, and later make the money. Research indicates an alarming rate of 25-year-olds who are clinically depressed and seeing a counselor because they didn”t make their first million, or didn”t reach their dream, as quickly as they”d hoped.

They are harmonious. For the first time in decades, this generation is cooperative and conventional. George Barna believes there are at least 20 different teenage subcultures in the United States today. Teenagers often belong to multiple subcultures, which is a recent phenomenon.

They are generous. They not only enjoy accomplishment, they enjoy giving away their resources. They want to serve their communities. Fifty percent of teenagers are active in community service; they feel it”s their duty.

They are optimistic achievers. They may be the best-educated, best-behaved adults in the nation”s history. They are full of hope. They want to make a difference; optimism drives them. Unlike the previous two generations, they believe the world can and will get better. It has been said: “Generation X struggled with authority; millennials struggle with reality.” This might be true, but their unwavering optimism has already driven them to action.

These are only a few of the windows that allow insight into the adolescent context. Many experts think this generation of young people will be one of the most influential in American history. That is why a growing number of voices say churches must seize this moment and reimagine their approach to youth ministry in order to reach the hearts of these millennial students.

 

Holistic Ministry in a Segmented World

Youth ministry that will satisfy the deep spiritual hunger of today”s students must take a holistic approach. We can no longer separate ministry to youth from the church community as a whole. We must minister to parents as well as teens. We must provide ways for teens to have intergenerational experiences with members of the community of faith.

A holistic approach also means we help students apply faith to all areas of life. Youth ministry, therefore, can no longer be about fun and games with a short talk “performed” from up front. Youth ministry committed to the spiritual formation of the millennial generation is worship, small groups, and sharing stories of God working in and through the lives of each other.

Whenever possible, students should participate in ministry rather than simply listen to adult leaders talking about it. The focus of ministry is to facilitate or equip. Short-term mission trips and service projects have become a major trend in the last decade of student ministry. This trend must continue because it provides students both a participatory and experiential outlet for ministry.

As much as possible, everything communicated within student ministry should be represented visually. Image-centered communication, however, can be accomplished orally. We must help students discover Jesus through metaphors, biblical narratives and parables, and stories of faith. Tell the story of your journey. Tell the stories of older members of the church. Tell the story of the student ministry. Tell the story of Jesus, and let others do the same.

As we look through the windows, our challenge is to allow this generation of students to experience the fullness of the gospel””the gospel that is for all ages of people””the gospel that is larger than the differences that would divide us””the gospel that is the mission of the church””the gospel that is truly the good news to a segmented world.

 

 

 

Curtis Booher is assistant professor of Bible and Christian ministries with Milligan College in Tennessee. Phyllis Fox is director of Youth in Ministry, a partnership of Milligan College and Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee.

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