I don’t think for a second youth ministry has failed.
For teens, there are excellent events for them to attend and spend time with their age-group.
For kids, Sunday School and stuff like that is when they are most likely to be reached and most likely to make a commitment.
What has failed, is the watering down of Christianity to try to attract people. This is done in both adult and youth ministries.
Church's have not done anything to attract younger people. My church still plays the same old geezer hymms from the turn of the last century. I just can't relate.
Church's put those hokey old sayings out on signs such as "What is missing from ch__ch? I think of Aunt Bee types thinking those things up while doing her needlepoint.
And they wonder why younger people have no interest.
Several reputable studies show that between 84% and 92% of children who have attended Sunday School flee the Church by age 30. If these figures are even close to accurate Sunday School (or “age-segregated” learning) is a dismal failure. Apparently it’s not only the government that clings to failed programs . . .
The Sunday School movement, which began in Britain in the late 1800s as a children’s literacy movement, is most certainly the new kid on the block. It’s time to recover the Biblical pattern of parents teaching their own children and parents and children growing together in the Lord.
**What has failed, is the watering down of Christianity to try to attract people. This is done in both adult and youth ministries.**
So true.
We had one youth minister who was a fun person — everything was fun — hardly any learning.
Now we have a hard-working youth minister with larger classes and with the last half hour spent in front of the Holy Eucharist in the monstrance for prayer.
Our numbers have increased, but I think there is still room for growth.
With the fun person — everything was done their way. Now with the liturgy and doctrine person — a youth choir has started. Youth help with greeting people as they enter church (used to be called ushers), etc.
The spirit and message of Christ is very idealistic and appealing to young people when it is delivered through the Holy Spirit.
Trying to make Jesus into a pop culture sensation, given the culture is the opposite of Jesus, has failed. Big surprise there.