Comments on: youth ministry 3.0, part 4

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:57:28 +0000

I have looked into adolescent development before and was very curious when I discovered the same things which Marko has recorded in this chapter. What I find most interesting is that if adolescence is not finding its closure until mid to late twenties, then what does that say for youth ministers? I am 22 and have been in the field for three years now. Back in early 1900, I would have been an adult. Today, I am lumped with the “young-adults” (which is a nice way of saying I am still a kid). I personally resonate with the development issues Marko brings up. I am still going through these developments. So should we hire youth ministers who are thirty and older? Most people seem to think that’s when you begin losing your ‘edge’ in youth ministry. However, developmentally, you are just beginning to have the ‘edge’ you need – being at the point we want our students to reach. Which do we want? The still-adolescent leading adolescence, or a bone fide adult leading?

By: dave miers dot com » Youth Ministry 3.0

dave miers dot com » Youth Ministry 3.0 — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:51:02 +0000

[...] youth ministry 3.0, part 4 [...]

By: Dan Rosch

Dan Rosch — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:46:41 +0000

I think we are in a for a huge change (As Marko’s book points to). The age groups used to be so different and predictable. Now some pre-teens have the maturity (physical and mental)of a high schooler. Then it seems now some who are college age seem to be at the level of high school junior or senior should be (if I make sense). It just seems that adolescence is becoming a big gap. People might be living longer but they are taking there sweet time “aging”. Our ministries now seem to big for one person to handle, even if it’s a small church. The age/grade groups are so fractured that it does not seem logical to just to minister to junior high, then high school, and then college. It’s seems like junior high needs to be expanded to other grades and college needs more than present student age and post student age. Basically what I am saying is the gap is huge and we need to fill it before it gets out of hand and we continue to lose certain age groups from church.

By: Andrew Seely

Andrew Seely — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:24:04 +0000

Now more than ever, it seems that there is a need for a holistic model of church. As the lines of adolescence blur more and more, so must the church be willing to rethink what “youth ministry” looks like.

It will take great courage and creativity on the part of those who choose to collaborate towards “youth ministry 3.0″, as we continue to help students encounter Jesus amongst the growing expanse of adolescence.

By: brandon

brandon — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:41:21 +0000

I think that this trend is part of what is behind the rampant sexuality in adolescence…

Ask someone to wait a few years to engage in sexual activity… maybe most would sign up…

ask them to wait from puberty at 11 until they get married… maybe in their 30′s … most feel like that is so long away that it might as well be another life…

I wonder if we need to learn… create and entirely new tact on this issue?

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:12:24 +0000

Could this explain why teenagers are so drawn to young youth pastors, and why so many 20-something youth pastors quit by the time they reach age 30?

Youth ministry is often seen by ministers as being a ‘stepping stone’ to “real” ministry — possibly a result of this extended adolescence as well. Youth ministry is what you do until you’re 30 or 40 (until you’re no longer hip!) and then you enter “real” ministry.

By: Lars Rood

Lars Rood — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:14:14 +0000

Probably the greatest implications of the expansion of adolescents is that we haven’t yet caught up in our colleges and seminaries to having many people recognize this change. As a youth pastor in a large evangelical church and a seminary grad I see a huge shift needing to happen so that we can both connect and retain this generation of students who are continuing their adolescent development into their 20′s. The obvious shift in youth ministry is that we must develop and grow communities that care for students both in their college years and beyond. How do we do that. Sadly, that isn’t yet being taught in most seminaries.

By: Jason Pauli

Jason Pauli — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:22:20 +0000

I think that the coming storm in youth ministry, the big shift, at least in churches and their families, is pushing and equipping parents in youth ministry.

It will have to be more than just providing programs for them for instruction and expecting them to attend. We’ve all experienced attendance letdowns for parent meetings. We will have to find ways to be proactive in engaging them by going to them instead of them coming to us.

By: James

James — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:52:50 +0000

I wonder if the cultural standards for adulthood are chainging, how long will it take for the legal rites of passage to change also?

Like when will be move the required ages for licenses, voting and drinking up?

Also – this sounds influenced by Christopher Noxon’s book Rejuvenille, which I think I heard of from this blog?

By: Jeff Greathouse

Jeff Greathouse — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:59:58 +0000

I want to echo Josh.

Understanding adolescence is very crucial but we may need to refocus our energies: times, budgets, resources and go to the ones (parents) who will have a far more reaching impact.