Are people afraid of youth ministries now days?!?!?!

[MrDanger]

I have had two conversations that blew me away in the last month.

1. Someone complained about the youth camp that I am involved in (Senior Camp). According to them, we are inviting campers that are the kind of youth they purposely homeschool to keep their kids away from.

2. A youth from what has been one of our larger youth groups in the state bragged to me how they have finally weeded out all of those that are not completely serious about God. Since then, "the Spirit has been moving so freely now" in their youth services.

Is this two isolated incidents or are we starting to have a movement again to build hospitals for the healthy.

[paul]

I have had two conversations that blew me away in the last month.

1. Someone complained about the youth camp that I am involved in (Senior Camp). According to them, we are inviting campers that are the kind of youth they purposely homeschool to keep their kids away from.

2. A youth from what has been one of our larger youth groups in the state bragged to me how they have finally weeded out all of those that are not completely serious about God. Since then, "the Spirit has been moving so freely now" in their youth services.

Is this two isolated incidents or are we starting to have a movement again to build hospitals for the healthy.

How sad....

[Dr. Ron]

Yes! They are terrified of them.

Your conversations are those that happen with monotonous regularity in churches all across the country. I have lost several families directly due to the youth ministry. You just can't please eveyone with them.

There are those "isolationist" christians who homeschool for the wrong purpose. I always ask for the parents rationale when they are homeschooling. Is it to keep your kids from evil influence or to educate them properly?

A good youth worker will try to accomodate everyone....and they are leaving those jobs in droves......the pressure is intense.....and as for those who are "having the spirit flow more freely" .....that is religious arrogance at it's highest....and that pastor is breeding another group that will "insulate" themselves from those who do not meet their criteria.

God bless you son.....and have your camp....just wish my friend Dennis was allowed to work with you...

[DeWayneTN]

That's really frustrating to hear. I sure am glad I wasn't "weeded out."

[Paully_44]

That's really frustrating to hear. I sure am glad I wasn't "weeded out."

no kidding, same here.

[Dr. Ron]

Dewayne,....you were weeded out.....you just didn't know it.

[DeWayneTN]

Yeah, I started to say - maybe I didn't take the hint.

[deb]

I heard (and wrote down the minutes for) a conversation like this about a year ago...

A new pastor was installed and stated this would be a new church with a new body of believers; doors would be open to everyone – didn’t care if they were black or white, rich or poor.

After the service, as I stood beside our Youth Pastor who was speaking to the new pastor, the youth pastor told him that the youth normally have services in the Sanctuary on Wednesday nights; since the new pastor had announced there would be a prayer meeting at 7 on Wednesday, the youth pastor asked him if the youth would still be able to have their services. I don't think either of us will ever forget the reply:
“Are they saved? Are they orderly?”

[MrDanger]

just wish my friend Dennis was allowed to work with you...

You and I both.

Part of the problem is that Victor and Renee worked under Dennis, learned a lot under him, and have really pushed hard (along with others) to finally get those changes through that Dennis fought so hard for. Some didn't like it then, some don't care for it now either.

[soulsearcher]

A youth from what has been one of our larger youth groups in the state bragged to me how they have finally weeded out all of those that are not completely serious about God.

Don't worry, Jeff. I found them. They're here in our church youth group - and doing just fine.

[MrDanger]

Hey, that's not fair. Your willing to love them and you live in Florida. We will lose them for sure.

[crispfin]

I heard (and wrote down the minutes for) a conversation like this about a year ago...

A new pastor was installed and stated this would be a new church with a new body of believers; doors would be open to everyone – didn’t care if they were black or white, rich or poor.

After the service, as I stood beside our Youth Pastor who was speaking to the new pastor, the youth pastor told him that the youth normally have services in the Sanctuary on Wednesday nights; since the new pastor had announced there would be a prayer meeting at 7 on Wednesday, the youth pastor asked him if the youth would still be able to have their services. I don't think either of us will ever forget the reply:
“Are they saved? Are they orderly?”

That last statement only reminded me of one thing:

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"

"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.

"Both very busy, sir."

"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."

Just awful.

Although I had a similar story from my old church. They've been going to build a new building since AJ came down the mountain and when they presented the plans, every department had a space except one--the youth. My mom, the youth director approached the pastor who had promised a youth room concerning its absence. His reply, which I often quote: "Sister, most of them young people are old enough to work. If they want a youth room they need to get jobs and pay for it."

[paul]

When pastoring my last cogop in Texas, we ran into this attitude so often...we worked with so many youth from broken homes and the streets. the group was strong and spiritual...but was made up of some tough caracters. One year we had a trio compete in the teen talent. Awsome group extremely talented. At the state convention in pre competion they were told they could not perform because one was wearing a ring. Broke their heart.

We have been working in the thirs world countries extremely hard to overcome attitudes towards the youth. In developing countries over 50% of the population in under 15 years of age.

We have instituted http://www.theignition.org for youth. In the Philippines this June we will build our first youth center, in Nigeria we just had our first ignition rally of youth and more than 120 attended, they said they could not believe that their was a special meeting just for them. In Ghana the ignition has put together 20 socker teams of youth from the streets and drawing hundreds of youth. In Uganda we will be setting up a complete boxing gym for street children. The equipment was given by a member of the late archie moore's family.

We have encouraged all of our schools to begin right away to adapt the schools to younger students to teach and equip them to reach their own. We just returned from India and we are placing in motion there a youth program. It is so imperative that we capture their hearts, energy and giftings. In every country.

Let the nain-sayers puke their garbage, there is an entire generation to reach and equip.

[Dr. Ron]

Paul, everyday you keep giving me more reasons to love you and your work! God bless you !

While our whinney butt preachers and pampered pew dwellers are willing to trash the whole generation, there are people like you who are giving it all they have.....same here.

It is true that the "worst" dollar in your church budget is for youth....meaning it brings in very little and costs a lot to operate, it has to be seen as an investment for the future. I am so glad someone invested in me!

God help us........

[Pastor Gary]

We'll take the noisy, unruly, rough-around-the-edges, tatted and pierced kids you can send us. We have a bunch of their friends already.

Yes, youth ministry is (financially) a bottomless pit into which you throw enormous portions of your resources with little visible return on investment... because you can't measure incremental change in people with a spreadsheet, and youth ministry is a marathon, not a sprint.