Diamonds are precious jewels. Diamonds are of worth. Diamonds are of value. Diamonds are a lasting treasure. Literal diamonds can be found on rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches. Figuratively, the word diamond can be used to denote something of worth or value. For instance, a brief web search of the word diamond came up with names of companies that sell everything from multi-media products to adventure equipment. A comic book distributor, a ski resort, an antenna company, an audio technology group and a business that sells almonds uses this precious jewel on the company logo.
I would like to use the diamond to illustrate the five diamonds of youth ministry. What five things should be found in every Christ-honoring, on-purpose PCA youth ministry? What are some biblical and covenantal principles that should be found in youth ministries, whether they are huge or small? What truths and principles are seen as “precious jewels” of worth to both the church and those prayerfully involved in youth ministry?
• The First Diamond: A Clear Purpose
The first diamond of youth ministry is that each one should have a clear reason for existing. I was recently in a big name pizza place and as I was waiting for the order, I noticed a purpose statement for the pizza company on the wall. In a very clear fashion they stated why the pizza company even existed. I began looking at information on the three largest businesses in America and they all had purpose statements. Even the 500th rank company in the U.S. has a statement for why they do what they do. If pizza chains, car companies, and retail stores have purpose statements, I believe that youth ministries should have biblical reasons for why they exist.
We see from Scripture that Christ had purpose for coming down to His people. He came to fulfill the law, to give His life as a ransom for many, to be a light in a dark world and to give not only eternal life but abundant life (John 3:16 and 10:10) as well. The apostle Paul was also one who had a strong sense of purpose in his life. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21), “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (I Cor. 10:31). “So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it” (II Cor. 5:9). It would seem odd to have Christ, the apostle Paul, and even businesses have very clear and strong purposes while the church and its youth ministry float along in an aimless fashion.
Simply put, each youth ministry that Christ calls forth from the church should have very clear and strong biblical reasons for even existing. Why does the youth ministry at the church even exist? That is a question that needs to be prayerfully discussed and answered.
• The Second Diamond: Family and Church-Family Friendly
There are user-friendly computers, passenger-friendly airlines, tourist-friendly cities and employee-friendly companies across the world. Another diamond of youth ministry that I pray shows up in Christ honoring churches is that they would be family friendly as well as church-family friendly. Let’s look first at being church-family friendly. The youth ministry should be part of the team of the overall church, not an opponent. It is not an “us” verses “them” setup, but rather a place where various generations have sweet, helpful and mutually respectful interaction. The “one another” passages of Scripture are great guide for interaction with similar groups as well as “intergenerational interaction” (I love that phrase). While there are several places where Scripture talks about the older generation helping the younger ones, (see Psalm 78:1-4, Titus 2:1-8 and II John) none of the “one another” passages have age restrictions. They can be done peer-to-peer or in cross-generational fashion. There is no age qualification on how to pray for, encourage, love, honor, be devoted to, live in harmony with or even greet one another. The goal in this is to help students become more involved in the life of the church and for the “church” to become more involved in the life of the students.
Next we need to see the importance of being family-friendly in youth ministry. Youth workers, both paid and volunteer, need to know our place. I speak as one of them when I say that we cannot come into a youth ministry with an arrogant attitude that says to the parents, “Out of the way parents, let an expert come through. Let me have your children for two hours and watch the salvation and sanctification blossom.” Study after study has shown that the number one spiritual impact in the life of a student, for better or for worse, is none other than the parent(s). Youth workers are needed, yes, yes, yes—but we need to know our place. Except in rare situations, we are nothing more then complements or supplements to the parents, not competitors. We come alongside them to be used by Christ as “co-workers” helping the students truly come to know Christ and grow in Him. Woe to the church that joyfully hires a youth worker who seeks no parental interaction. The commands of Deuteronomy 6, Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3 are directed to parents and fathers, not youth workers. We are to come alongside and live out in a very prayerful and targeted way the “one another” passages. Speaking now as a parent, I desire my three boys to be surrounded by other people who love Christ and live to honor and please Him in their lives. My sons need to see that although Daddy, who is so extroverted that he can go up and talk to a tree if he needs to, that all Christians are not that way. They need to see the quiet men in our church who love Jesus like Daddy and live godly lives, but differently.
• The Third Diamond: Five Keys
Balance is important in roller-blading, tightrope walking and doing the balance beam but it is also an important part to any Christ-honoring youth ministry. Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Church and Purpose-Driven Life as well as Doug Fields’ Purpose-Driven Youth Ministry all stress the five aspects of ministry that should be found in our lives, churches and yes, even in youth ministries.
Briefly stated, the five keys to a well-balanced, Christ-honoring youth ministry are:
• Worship (Psalm 95:6-7)
• Fellowship (Acts 2:42 and 1st John 1:3-4)
• Outreach (Matt 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8)
• Service and Spiritual Gifts (Gal. 5:13, Romans 12:3-8, I Cor. 12:1-ll and 1st Peter 4:10-11)
• Discipleship (Matt 28:19-20, Col. 1:10 and 2nd Peter 3:18)
It is my humble opinion that as true discipleship goes, so goes the church and the youth ministry. If discipleship can be broadly defined as, “falling more in love with Christ and becoming more like Him,” then the student will grow in their sincerity and application of the other four areas.
• The Fourth Diamond: Variety of Levels
There are fewer Eagle scouts than Cub scouts and fewer marathoners than there are people who walk twenty minutes, three times a week. Why is that? Because the greater the intensity, the fewer the participants. Scripture notes this as well when you compare the feeding of the 5,000 to the Sermon on the Mount to the Transfiguration. In youth ministry, there should be various opportunities for students to plug into something that is at their level. Youth group alone will not cut it spiritually for some students because the Lord is leading them to go deeper. The same holds true for the opposite. Not every student is ready for the deep, deep, deep accountability group or Bible study. However, if things are prayerfully in place students can thrive in their spiritual growth with a group at their level. The various levels of intensity help the whole group and keeps students from being bored at one end and overwhelmed on the other.
• The Fifth Diamond: A Place for the Called to Serve
Christian Education Committees and youth ministries across the country need to prayerfully seek how to best train, develop, care for and encourage “called by the Lord” adults in using their God-given spiritual gifts, to the honor of Christ in ministry to youth. Prayerfully consideration should also be given to what extent godly strong students will be used in leadership of the church’s youth ministry. John Maxwell’s short and to the point statement tells of the importance of those who lead: “Everything rises or falls on leadership.” This is one area that youth ministry cannot ignore or take for granted.
Diamonds are precious gems. Diamonds are of worth. Diamonds are of lasting value. May the Lord Himself bless those who desire to have a youth ministry springing forth from their church that is a precious gem, a ministry of lasting value and worth. May the Lord Jesus use these five diamonds of youth ministry as a guide to helping more churches have ministry to students that is a true treasure to the students, the youth leaders, the church, its families, the community and beyond. May the five diamonds of youth ministry be joyfully lived out in your local church.
• Dean Conkel, TE, is coordinator of youth and family ministries for CE&P. He travels, speaks, and consults with churches across the PCA and is instrumental in placement of youth ministry personnel. Having featured children’s ministries a couple of issues ago, we now focus on youth ministry in the local church.
*Article as seen in Equip magazine.
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