What will youth ministry look like in 2020?

There are more studies of young people and their faith today than at any time in human history.  Despite this wealth of information, our methods have not significantly changed since contemporary youth ministry was birthed in the 1950s and 60s.  That will change in the coming years.

Here is my best shot at how youth ministry will morph by 2020:

1. “Missional Communities” will change youth ministry relationships

A movement is emerging in churches large and small across the U.S.  It started in the U.K. decades ago as the church was forced to learn new strategies in an increasingly post-Christian culture.  “Extended-family” type groups of 20-70 people are emerging in churches that have a very clear outward mission.  Kids are a part of this movement – a future blog post will talk more about how Missional Communities may change youth ministry more than any other movement in the coming decades.

2. Intergenerational education programs for Senior Pastors will emerge

Future senior pastors will increasingly be expected to understand the dynamics of today’s intergenerational movement in churches.  Seminaries and other entities will begin to offer opportunities for senior pastors to be immersed in its complexities.

Jim Candy is a pastor at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.

3. Sunday morning programs will become history

Congregations will become increasingly dissatisfied with the separation between adults and its young people at their weekend services.  Worship services will change to accommodate younger people and those congre

gations that do not, will continue to disappear.

4. Same sex conversations will reach a fever pitch

Homosexuality, and the church’s view on that topic, will be a lightning rod for middle and high school kids in considering faith in Jesus.  Youth ministries will increasingly need to lovingly converse with kids and the broader culture about its viewpoint – whatever it may be.

5. Professional youth ministry positions will become more rare

Churches will increasingly alter structures so that entire congregations and caring for young people and will rely less on paid staff than in previous decades.  This will also be financially driven as more congregations will be forced to have a leaner staff.

6. Youth workers will be older

The stereotype of the youth worker as someone in their early 20s who views youth work as a stepping stone to another pastoral position will continue to fade away.

7. Youth workers will learn differently than previous decades

Conferences, books and seminars have been the major way youth workers have learned over the previous decades.  The next decade will mark a continued emergence of youth workers learning together in smaller “cohorts” of up to 30 people.

8. Children’s ministry will emerge as the most strategic opportunity in the church

Youth workers will begin to realize that putting multiple, Jesus-loving adults in kids’ lives means to affect the way the entire family system thinks about their relationships.  The best opportunity to influence those family relationships is when children are young and family relational patterns have not yet been established.  Savvy youth ministries will seek to influence children’s ministry to encourage parents to create extended family relationships.

Chap Clark is Vice Provost at Fuller Theological Seminary.

9. Youth ministries will leverage technology to help kids process Jesus

Young people, elementary school age and up, will increasingly own smart phones and other technologies.  Youth workers and ministries will learn how to leverage technology to help kids integrate Jesus into the different segments of their complex lives.

10. Leading churches will learn new ways to help kids serve

The days where churches create “service projects” for kids to participate in will decrease.  In its place will emerge more thought-out ways that churches come alongside young people who demonstrate a passion for particular causes or issues.  Leading churches will ask teenagers to dream, pray and then support young peoples’ passions rather than create service projects and ask them to participate.

One thing that will never change:  adults who love young people without agenda in the name of Jesus will always be a precious commodity and used by God to help transform their lives.  – Jim Candy

http://www.parenteen.com/index.cfm/pageid/1136/index.html

On February 10/11, Prime Time Children’s Ministries will be hosting its 10^th or 11^th annual 4^th/5^th Grade Indoor Campout (no one really knows when it started). We turn the auditorium into a campground, complete with nature sounds, camp activities, trees, campfires, and tents. The only things missing will be the bugs and wild animals.

This is one of my favorite events because it is one complete night of fun and hoopla. We play games, make camp crafts, tell “Holy-Ghost” stories (get it?), watch a movie on the big screens, bake S’mores in the kitchen, and then enjoy a special musical guest (if your kids have ever gone, ask them about it — they will know).

So 4^th or 5^th graders, sign yourself and a friend (or nine) up! If you are not a 4^th or 5^th grader or don’t know any, chances are there are probably some in your neighborhood who enjoy having fun.

Forget homework for a Friday night, ditch the Saturday morning soccer or basketball game, and come camp inside the auditorium. This is a great place for students to connect with their leaders and to make new friends — a great time to instill the value of pulling away from normal activities, to commune with fellow followers of Christ, and help make new ones. Stop by the Welcome Center or Spotlight Booth to find out all the details and register.

On February 10/11, Prime Time Children’s Ministries will be hosting its 10^th or 11^th annual 4^th/5^th Grade Indoor Campout (no one really knows when it started). We turn the auditorium into a campground, complete with nature sounds, camp activities, trees, campfires, and tents. The only things missing will be the bugs and wild animals.

This is one of my favorite events because it is one complete night of fun and hoopla. We play games, make camp crafts, tell “Holy-Ghost” stories (get it?), watch a movie on the big screens, bake S’mores in the kitchen, and then enjoy a special musical guest (if your kids have ever gone, ask them about it — they will know).

So 4^th or 5^th graders, sign yourself and a friend (or nine) up! If you are not a 4^th or 5^th grader or don’t know any, chances are there are probably some in your neighborhood who enjoy having fun.

Forget homework for a Friday night, ditch the Saturday morning soccer or basketball game, and come camp inside the auditorium. This is a great place for students to connect with their leaders and to make new friends — a great time to instill the value of pulling away from normal activities, to commune with fellow followers of Christ, and help make new ones. Stop by the Welcome Center or Spotlight Booth to find out all the details and register.

Tuesdays, January 24^th-April 10^th (No class on 2/21 or 4/3)

4:00-5:30pm, Room 206

A class for Upper Elementary Students who have indicated a desire to explore the Christian faith in more depth and who are ready to take more responsibility in their spiritual journey and formation. Students will begin to understand the core beliefs of the Christian faith and begin to claim them as their own. This is a twelve-week commitment, parents must willing to support and help their child in completing and understanding provided materials. Sign up at the spotlight booth or welcome center.

Contact Daniel Martin for more information.

Email: daniel.martin@oakhills.org to sign up or or for more information.

Eleanor Rigby (her OH nickname) Beatles’ fashion, “I don’t know why you say goodbye, I say hello.”

This song has been stuck in my head for the past few months and I’d like to share it with you all. It definitely applies to the past few months here at Oak Hills and Prime Time.

Tru was written with the spiritual formation of children in mind.  This means helping kids build a life-long relationship with God, giving them a strong foundation in biblical knowledge, and being intentional about creating space for kids to encounter the living God. Through the process of spiritual formation, we desire children to open their hearts to God, learn His voice, have a desire to obey Him, and to do so in the power the Holy Spirit offers to each believer.

One exciting component this curriculum offers each week is The Big God Story. Bible stories are no longer isolated with Noah being the star one week and Abraham the next, but instead told in the context of the main story, where Jesus, the Redeemer, is elevated to his rightful place as Savior and Lord.  Students are reminded that God is the author and He is still writing His big story, which includes all of us.  As we help kids see that the bigger story has been lived out for thousands of years, they have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the wonder of it all; the great mystery of who God is and how He has chosen a part for each of us to play.

Another exciting component includes a opportunity and call for students to Respond each week to what they have heard, through both guided worship times, and Worship Response Stations. Children are encouraged to make space for the Holy Spirit and respond in a personal but communal way.  We desperately want to break away from creating robots who parrot Sunday school answers and make room for God to transforms little lives as they encounter His presence and power.

Each week ends with the Blessing.  The Small Group Shepherds send each child out with a blessing with the idea that they transition from being blessed to being a blessing to the world around them.  In big church, we call this the benediction.  Parent will be invited to join in this time of blessing when they pick up their children.

Finally, this curriculum comes with a huge family component.  We recognize that you as parents are your children’s primary spiritual teachers.  Since students, 1^st-8^th grade, will all be studying the same thing, you’ll have greater opportunities to talk as a family about what God is doing. Tru has designed a resource to help parents intentionally spend time in God’s Word with their children before coming to church each week.  It’s called the HOMEFRONT Weekly.  The HOMEFRONT is a weekly half sheet that will be sent home with your child each Sunday.  It is accompanied by a monthly HOMEFRONT magazine filled with suggestions for creating spiritually forming time in the home.  The monthly HOMEFRONT magazine will be available at the Spotlight Booth each month with reminders to pick it up in the bulletin.