The debate surrounding the perceived lack of a biblical basis for youth ministry has been ongoing in some Christian circles. Some have even gone so far as to blame youth work for the much-reported departure of young adults from church after high school. It is true that there is no explicit mention of youth ministry in Scripture, but this does not mean that it is not a valid and necessary part of Christian discipleship. The purpose of youth ministry is to make adult disciples whose faith was rooted in adolescence.
Whether they are church children or openly opposed to religion, faithful youth workers serve with a commitment to announce the good news of Jesus Christ to teenagers. Youth ministry is vital for several reasons, but one of the most important is its reciprocal aspect. The goal of youth ministry is to “integrate young people into the body and mission of Jesus Christ”, and this should be the focus of any youth group. The development of youth ministry in the United States has been explored in depth by Thomas Bergler in his book The Juvenilization of American Christianity.
Bergler's book provides an exegetical, historical and theological basis for youth ministry, and his epilogue summarizes the practical implications for parents, youth workers, and church leaders. The biblical mandate for youth ministry should “begin religious instruction in the family home as spiritual practices, add knowledge through the broader faith community, and provide guidance from key spiritual leaders for specific practices and duties”. Mike Kipp, an associate professor of youth and family ministry at Northwestern Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, emphasizes that efforts to reach the young generation have the potential to push the church to remarry spiritual concerns and social action. The findings of the National Study of Youth and Religion, completed by Christian Smith and Lisa Pearce, are also relevant here.
The study found that unless a Youth Group is made up of only a handful of children from the Kingdom, it is likely to be full of “bad company”. This means that it is essential for churches to connect young people in the life of their church and have a reciprocal youth ministry that serves both young people and other members of the church. In conclusion, it is clear that youth ministry is a biblical necessity. It is true that there is no explicit mention of it in Scripture, but this does not mean that it is not valid or necessary.
The purpose of youth ministry is to make adult disciples whose faith was rooted in adolescence, and its reciprocal aspect means that it serves both young people and other members of the church. It is essential for churches to connect young people in the life of their church and have a reciprocal youth ministry that serves both young people and other members of the church.
