Are the youth in your church on the radar?

How are youth perceived in your church?

Are they kids to be entertained? Those unreachable ones that someone has to "connect with" so that they come to church on Sundays? Perhaps they're a group of people who are seen as being able to contribute, but in only rudimentary ways. Are they the ignored ones? Or are they well-loved?

Are they seen for their potential? How about as ones who have a legitimate voice? Are they considered leaders, or inexperienced?


Here's what many of you working with youth know well: They have thoughts. They have ideas. They have good ideas. They are capable of passion and drive. They have great questions and they are open to learning more.

They are also unsatisfied. They'd like to contribute in significant ways, more than just acolyting and ushering, or maybe running the sound board.

It's just that so few are actually asking for their ideas and input. Few are actually inviting them to do more -- to think, to act, to lead. Few are mentoring them and encouraging them. Sometimes youth group turns out to be an isolated group, removed from the rest of the congregation, when there's so much potential for both youth and adults to learn from one another, and for the church to thrive. What if more youth were intentionally mentored -- challenged and encouraged -- not to participate in more churchy things, but to develop vibrant faith?

One high school student said this about mentors:

They're teaching us to prepare for life...because they've been there. We haven't been there yet. I'm only going to be a senior in high school. What do I know? ...I feel as if mentors have been the biggest blessing that I've received in a long time, and for that I am forever grateful. (from the book How Youth Ministry can Change Theological Education -- If We Let It, edited by Kenda Creasy Dean and Christy Hearlson [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016], p. 82)

Maybe mentoring should happen more often. How is your ministry developing the church as a whole through mentoring relationships? What are some of the ways youth are put in position to learn, to think, to lead, and to grow in your ministry, in relation to other adults? How might adults learn from youth as partners in relationship in Christ? How might this benefit not only your church congregation, but your community, through your church?

Share your ideas. We'd all benefit from hearing from others on this!