An Outsiders View of North American Youth Work: copyright Group Magazine

“If I was American, where would I want to minister?”

I travel a lot so tend to ask myself stupid questions like that. I’m not American. I’m not even close. I’m a Brit, married to an Aussie, and I love rugby too much to want to live your side of the pond. But for argument’s sake, and because I have another two hours mindless driving ahead, let’s ask the question.

If I was American, and had had the chance to go to Europe and seen a country like Slovenia, which is as developed as America but where there are no known evangelical teenagers at all anywhere, I’d probably be asking whether my time could be better spent somewhere else.

If I was American, and had had the chance to go to Africa where youth pastors live on about a $1 a day and still share the gospel with hilarious abandonment and huge fruit, I’d probably be asking whether my resources could be better spent somewhere else.

But then when all is said, done and asked, I’d probably stay put. Not because of lack of compassion, ambition or faith. But simply because I reckon I could achieve far more for the benefit of the global church from America than from anywhere else.

I believe the American church is God’s gift to the global church.

Really, I do. But before you get carried away, I also believe that with gifting comes responsibility. Jesus said “To him to whom much is given, much is expected.” And the American church has been given huge amounts, of both resources and talent. One day you will need to give account for how you used all you were given. So the question is, are you investing it in the kingdom or burying it in your own backyard? Matt 25v14-30

Take a snapshot from a distance, and the American church, including American youth ministry, looks pretty good. The ministry programs impress us Europeans, the TV programs impress the Africans, and the coffee impresses the Australians. But keep the cameras rolling, and doubts set in. Are the programs there for Jesus or Jesus there for the programs? Hang around and watch the world copying what they see on TV, and it isn’t comfortable viewing: Everyone trying to be American, and failing. Perhaps if they had seen more of Jesus, they would have been inspired to have been more like Jesus, and succeeded.

I don’t think the American church is using the gifts and responsibilities our Father has given you to serve the wider church as effectively as you might. But then I don’t think the American church is using the gifts and responsibilities our Father has given you to serve America as you should either. For what they’re worth, here are my thoughts on American youth ministry. Bear with the first bit, and its gross over generalisations. You won’t like it, but hang in there. It gets better.

Your programs are good, but do they really cut it? Ultimately the question needs to be asked, what questions are you asking? Correct me if I’m wrong, I really want to know, so email me: Why exactly are churches hiring youth pastors? Is it because they are asking the question: how are we going to reach the lost? Or is it because they are asking: how are we going to hang on to what we’ve got? Yes, we’re back to the parable of the talents again!

It seems, admittedly to an outsider, that American youth ministry is run by the Christian kids, with the result that it is largely entertainment. Parents panic over their kids, and suggest the church elders hire someone: heck, they’ll even cover the budget through their tithe! The young Bible College graduate arrives, largely inexperienced, but that’s no problem because the kids tell him or her what he or she needs to do, and as long as he or she does it, all is well. If of course he or she doesn’t, the kids quit the church, the parents turn the screws on the elders, or at least the treasurer, and the youth pastor has to look for a new job, a new start, and a new philosophy, which we in Europe call “laissez faire”!

OK I’m a cynical Brit! I know! But go on, deny it. The strength of the American church is a bit like your economy. Yes, it looks good, and is based on a massively strong foundation which isn’t going to collapse over night. But in reality your stock within the wider American non-Christian community is weakening all the time; a bit like your dollar is weakening in the wider global financial community. And it appears to an outsider that your church leaders care as little about America’s unchurched as your political leaders do about your balance of trade deficit!

You’re losing it, guys. And quickly! Come on, be honest! Step outside your office and walk down the road and ask what impact you’re really having on most kids in the community. Then step back into your church sanctuary and ask what long term impact you’re having on the kids even in the church community.

Why were you hired? What questions were asked of you at interview? Do you sometimes feel all anyone cares about is your program, when actually what really matters are your heart, your prayerfulness and your commitment to the Word of God- or bluntly whether you love Jesus passionately?

It’s time to take a longer, wider and deeper look at things. Kids will never get to heaven via a program. Sure your programs can reveal Jesus, but do they? Do they inspire a depth of relationship with Christ, a deeper desire for holiness and a deep compassion for the lost? Too often the only thing of any real depth I’ve seen in American youth ministry is the popcorn carton.

If you really want to bring in the kingdom in your community rather than just build your church and program, then you’d probably be engaged in creative partnerships with other churches locally. If you really want to impact your kids with the gospel, then your program wouldn’t just be discussions on how God can bless me. Rather it would be an open Bible after the regular input at the homeless shelter has raised questions like: What does God make of a gay AIDS victim?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Americans. You have an energy, a passion and a belief which is lacking in Europe. You’ve always had it. It’s why many of your ancestors left Europe. You left the tired, scared, cynics behind to seek out a brave new world, and live out your dreams. But where are today’s dreamers in youth ministry? Why aren’t your colleges training emerging leaders to think outside of the box? Why do you all seem to do the same thing? Why not try something different? You might fail, but so what? Unless you’re failing at something, you probably aren’t pushing the boundaries or -back to the parable of the talents again- probably just playing safe.

Melissa, my beautiful Aussie wife, and I recruit scores of young American emerging leaders every year and send them out to study in the context of the mission field. We do it for two reasons. First of all they are amazing visionary and passionate young people. They are a gift to the global church, and a credit to the good of American youth ministry. Secondly though, they learn so much more on the mission field than in some cosy college somewhere. The best place to learn about propitiation is out there among the lost, the needy and hopeless. We send many of these young leaders back to the US, with a degree and three years mission experience, but by then they are wrecked for many job vacancies. Their world view has been blown wide open, and they make useless baby sitters for the junior high class.

Of course just getting out on mission isn’t the Holy Grail! America already sends hundreds of thousands of kids on short term mission. We are grateful recipients of some great kids every year. However it isn’t just going, but how you go that matters. It’s possible to make even a mission trip… show time!

One of my American colleagues was sitting in Starbucks a while back, sipping his small decaf, when in came a youth group of about twenty teens all wearing matching T shirts reading “We’re going to change the world for Jesus”. Brad was probably jealous that they could all afford the $6 Mocha Frappe Something, but he was equally embarrassed by the group cutting in line, complaining about the day’s work ahead and their treatment of all those around them. When a few days service a year costs little and earns a souvenir T-shirt and praise from the church fellowship after the power point presentation, then it’s probably a waste of time.

This is an “outsider’s view of American youth ministry”, but let me end this rabid section with a reflection from Brad: “Because of our own short-sightedness and our blindness to the obvious consequences of our approach, we the American church are producing a generation of Church kids who are faithless, frustrated, lonely, often selfish and can be described as spiritually numb and angry in their attitudes towards Church, ministers and most sadly, God!”

Phew, I’m glad that’s over, and that you’re still with me. That’s the downside. Let me go on now to tell you why I still believe American youth ministry is a gift of God to the worldwide church.

You have millions of young Christians, many of whom have a better biblical education than most pastors across the wider world. What if they were envisioned to go out and change their world? If I were an American my heart would be in Africa, Europe or Asia, but my ministry would probably be in America. I could either go myself, or inspire hundreds to go!

Then again I’d feel a huge burden to ensure the American church not only fulfilled its potential and delivered on its responsibilities today, but remained able to do so for the decades ahead. I’d want to inspire every American young Christian I had the privilege to serve to reach their peers and demonstrate powerfully and authentically the true living Jesus to the lost of America. I’d be anxious to learn from the salutary tale of the European church, which once saw reformation and revival but then turned in upon itself, became smug, self satisfied and lazy, and now is largely irrelevant to nearly all the continent’s population. History repeats itself when no one listens!

If I was an American this would be my dream!

I’d want to find a context in which to work where the leadership had thought through their responsibilities to their young people, the young people in their community and to the world as a whole.
I’d be far more interested in people than programs and individuals than the numbers. I’ve actually nothing against programs or crowds. But they are only the means and the context to serve the individuals with Jesus. Jesus attracted the crowds but sought out the individuals. I’d measure my ministry not by the programs or the crowds but by how much of Jesus and His heart is still being demonstrated in individuals in ten years time.
I’d want to encourage these individuals to experience the heartache of their Father for their community and the wider world. I’d want to take them to places not just to see or visit, but to engage meaningfully. I’d want them to face the hard questions life throws at them in the raw, not just in the sanitised environment of the Upper Room Lounge, and see how Christ answers those questions.
I’d want to inspire those young people to think differently. I’d want them to grow up believing it is alright to fail. In fact it is how we learn best and ultimately achieve most. I’d want them to see faith is more than receiving a blessing. It is about sacrificial love. I’d be particularly concerned to raise up a new generation of young leaders who think Biblically, creatively and Christ-like.

Practically speaking:

I would want to get to know my community, including the other churches, and seek out those who thought the same way as me. I’d want to partner with anyone I could, seek to serve them, and, together with them, engage my young people in the community.
I would want to get to know my world, and build links with those around the world who shared a heart for the kingdom. I’d want to partner with them, seek to serve them, and get my young people out there serving and learning from them. Oh and partnership doesn’t mean finding an amiable host somewhere around the world for our program. It means serving theirs.
I would want to find safe ways of releasing my young people into service, and creative ways to teach them, so they grow into adulthood with hearts to give sacrificially, and minds to think radically.

Sorry for the infuriating generalisations and blanket statements, but hear my heart. There has never been a more important time to be doing youth ministry in America. God has equipped and resourced you to serve not just America but the world. We, the global church need you. Please do it, for Christ’s sake.