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Before moving into the content of this letter, let it be known that I love youth pastors. I worked with Youth for Christ during my college career, and even joined the staff for three years, all the while working with many youth pastors all over Palm Beach County, Fl. I have never enjoyed a brotherhood as I did with those youth pastors. Meeting for breakfast with these individuals were very memorable times where we shared and discussed our struggles and our strategies to bring more young people to our churches, and hopefully guide them to the foot of the cross.
I know the pains of being a youth pastor. Youth leaders teeter between the realms of "entertainment" and "inspirational teachings" and oftentimes struggle to find the balance. You work long, fluctuating hours and have little time for your family. You have to answer to a pastor who is often from a different generation and who has different ideas on how a youth group should be run. (This reminds me of the time when the punk band "Blaster the Rocket Boy" came to our church to play a concert. You should have seen our pastor's face!) So, before I say this: I get it. I respect you for your calling. I know God's work is not always easy.
While I am no expert, I do somewhat understand our youth. Many of them have privileged upbringings, are sheltered for most of their young lives, and then are shipped off to state colleges to fend for themselves. I am sure you have heard the statistics; basically three quarters of our youth are losing their faith in college. The question I have to ask you is simple: How is the church [or specifically your church] preparing them for this voyage? If the purpose of your ministry is to cultivate young people so that they will have a life-long relationship with Jesus Christ, are you succeeding?
Mark Oestreicher, a worker at Youth Specialties said in his blog, "People today could care less about the "proof" of our arguments, the "logic" of our evidence that demands a verdict, or our "cases" for faith, Christ, Easter, Christmas or whatever else. The only evidence demanding a verdict people care about these days is how I live my life. The only case for Christ people give a rip about is the case made by commitment to love and justice, or lack thereof." (http://www.ysmarko.com/?p=120) While it is true that people care about love and justice, the rest of this statement doesn't really represent what I know of my students. They DO have questions about Christianity. They want to know it's TRUE. They want to know that the feelings that they have during worship are not grand delusions of some mythical "higher power." They want to ground their experience in reality; in the reality of Christ.
Now of course, these statements do not represent ALL of your youth. Many of them need to be rescued from apathy, as do some of my students. But the fact of the matter is that some of our students do want to know the facts of the matter. They want to know the truth that is Christianity. They want to know Christ. They want to see Christ manifested in their leaders. They want to see us believe AND live according to the example of our Lord.
Reason and Love: they are not incompatible; they are indispensable. Without reason our youth won't know the truth, and without love, they won't want to know. The question is simple: Are our churches offering reason and love? Are we loving them graciously and teaching them diligently?
As a postscript, simply know that this may not apply to your church. I have met many youth pastors who offer Sunday school series on apologetics oriented topics. Others take their students to apologetics conferences. My simple plea is this: offer something. Find a way to offer apologetics training to your students. You will be surprised how many want to more deeply understand their faith.
In the Battle for our Students, Dean Hardy
Dean Hardy is the Head of the Bible Department at Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, NC. He earned his B.A. in Religion from Palm Beach Atlantic University and his Masters in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary. He can be reached via http://www.tostandyourground.com/contact.php
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