My friend Matt Marino has written for “The Living Church” a couple of articles on the importance of solid youth ministry. His latest is worth looking at.
Like Rip Van Winkle, the Church is waking from its long slumber to find the world changed. All branches of the American church have a problem retaining young adults; this issue is rapidly working its way down into college and youth ministries. Mainline churches have discovered that failing to provide leadership and politicizing our youth does not work. Evangelicals are beginning to speak about how the segregation/parachurch model does not work either. What will work? Is there a model of youth ministry that creates robust Christian disciples and sees adolescence as a mission field for extending the gospel? I believe there is. Let me tell you the story of Iliya’s introduction to the youth group at our small mission church.
Read the rest here.
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