I agree and I disagree and both in the one sentence
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Nicki raises some interesting concepts in her response to something she heard. What I find fascinating is how [in my opinion] she gets it SO right and SO wrong both in the same sentence!
Any youth ministry statement must include the role of parents and any youth minister must purely exist to assist Christian parents in the evangelisation and discipleship of their children.
Could not agree more - youth ministry MUST involve parents as they are the key people in the lives of the young people we serve.
BUT can’t agree that youth ministers ‘purely exist’ to do as she says. The role of youth minister is much broader, deeper and higher than just that. Yes, it should include that - but what about non-church kids? what about dysfunctional families? what about disinterested parents? Should the young people suffer from our ‘pure’ motives as we pass them by on the other side of the street?
and yes, I admit, I am stirring the pot!
I think you are correct. I think the quote is a parent RANTING and not thinking from a biblical perspective. Youth ministry was invented to do what parents refused to do… reach out to the children of peers. (Just the facts in the history of YM.)
That seems to be written from a very immature perspective, not holistic to the community at all.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:48 pmI have to disagree. As I’ve said in a previous comment, it is undeniable that parents are the primary youth ministers to their children. There are numerous Biblical references that tells parents to teach their children. There are no references to Levites, apostles, preachers, etc…telling them to do this instead of the parents.
I think ONLY exception is when there are no Christian parents. When parents are apathetic or even dysfunctional, it is our job to enable them and train them to do it. It is, afterall, their Biblical duty to do so. I believe this is exactly why 75% or so have completely left the church after graduating. Their faith was connected to the church and the youth pastor. But when teenagers are connected by their parents, the effects are far reaching. I’ve seen it time after time.
So I have to completely disagree. I think she has a very mature perspective in returning ministry to youth primarily through their parents.
March 19th, 2008 at 12:23 amJust to clarify a few things Adam/DJ. This is not something that I wrote/spoke about,it was something that I listened to. Secondly,the context of the discussion was Christian parenting and bringing up your child in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Therefore, the context of the above quote is in reference to youth ministers assisting what CHRISTIAN parents should be doing. This I would unashamedly agree with. It has nothing to do with a YM’s job of reaching out to non-churched kids. The bible is very clear on the role of parents to evangelise and disciple their children. As a parent, and one who supports a youth ministry in my own church, it is primarily MY job to teach MY children and I see any youth ministry assisting and complementing that job in addition to taking a lead role in reaching out to the unchurched.
On that, I do not think we are any different in what we think. I hardly believe I’m immature on this and am disappointed with your reaction and I commend to you Voddie Baucham’s talk to which I made reference to.
Nicki
March 30th, 2008 at 5:46 am