The Black Hole in the Ministry of the Church pt. 3

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In a world where anybody can post whatever they want, regarding whatever or whomever they want, using whatever basis of truth they want, it seems that everyone has an opinion. And in most cases, as you read their opinion, their opinion is Right; it is True. Many times that's the case with this blog. My thoughts are the modus operandi for truth.

So, in every effort to try and do "College Transition" or "Young Adult" ministry, a very severe recognition of this notion is realized. Every person that sits in any service or ministry has their opinion on how it should be done; how it should look. And this is what makes both of these groups very difficult to do relevant ministry with and "hold water" for extended periods of time.

The reality is that everyone has an opinion on everything that is a performance-based, audience-centered, rallying of people that does not have a clear and distinct purpose that is greater than putting on a good show. And yet, this, at the root of many of our programs, is the form that our worship services take, especially in reference to college and young adult ministry. "Let's create an experience" have been uttered many times from my very own lips. We've seen what Louie Giglio and his team have pulled off for 4 days a year and we continually try and recreate, retrofit and relocate to our own ministries and it consistently comes up short of what college students and young adults desire, need or have created expectations with which to measure up to.

So, what if our efforts to reach this part of the Church that sees more spiritual atrophy and more personal decisions to turn away from Christ for the pursuit of their own "destiny," looked completely different and sounded completely different and were created completely different? What if it was something that was so organic and centered around a focus that no one could truly describe yet every person involved could identify whole-heartedly and met every participant at the place that they found themselves. What if this thing had no resemblance to a "program" at all, rather took the role of simply being a constant in their lives that they can turn to in any time of their life.

What if Acts 2:42-47 became a reality in the lives of all church member, but specifically in college and young adult ministry?

Just some questions I'm asking lately.

The Black Hole in the Ministry of the Church pt. 2

As I begin to discuss some of my observations of this area of the church, one thing that must remain clear and true throughout this entire discussion is the command from God for pastors to "prepare the saints for ministry." My entire goal of seeing this transition done well is because it is my passion to see people find their fit in the larger Body of the Church. We all have a ministry that God has shaped and formed us for and it is my opinion that we are best supported and most effective when we see that happening inside the context of the church.

You want to serve the poor? Join the Church, cause government is not going to support you to the end. You want to see people live in peace? Join the Church, cause all the remedies of the world cannot change the status and desire of the heart of man. The Church is God's chosen instrument to show His glory in all the earth. The question is how do we best equip those for the ministry they have been designed for?

There seems to be a reality that post-high school people are very much still in their formative years. Truth be told, I'm currently 24 and I would still consider myself to being "formed." It is because of this formation that we tend to find these years being stressful, daunting, difficult, continually changing and, in today's world, constantly seeking truths and realities in the world. What is so trying to me is that there are many who attempt to go through this period of time outside the bounds of a consistent fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ. We have been duped into believing that no one will actually support us in our dreams, that conflict is the evidence of a lack of support, and that in the end, we really cannot trust anyone. We have been convinced that our way is the best way for us and that remains true for every other person on the planet.


So, my question is, is this separation from the church, a result of bad programming, bad practical theology in youth ministry, or is the message of Jesus and His steadfastness being lost somewhere in the shuffle? Have we become so programmed that we have missed the reality of deeper connection and complete attention on Jesus? Where does the change need to happen? Where's the missed point? Last 10%: Who owns this one? Is it time to change the program or is it time for the person of faith to own their faith and their role in the Body?

I tend to think it is a both/and, and I begin to wonder about the ways that we have tried to bridge the gap in the past.

The Black Hole in the Ministry of the Church pt. 1

Among many other things, lately my thoughts and dreams have been centered around the transition from High School into the larger body of the Church. This predominately comes from the black hole that seems to exist when students leave their youth groups and the laser focused structure of the youth group model and try to find a spot in the larger body of the church. There is a disconnect between hanging out with friends and worshipping together in a very age-specific culture that does not compute with students when they leave for college or the young adult years and cannot find something that is similar. The reality is that there are many variables here and many things affecting this time in a person's life.

Central to my thoughts are how to remedy the situation. Typically, when there is a shortfall in the church, we create a new program, a new worship service, a new way to try and do church on "their level." We make the messages "more relevant" to that specific age group, we make the worship more "age-appropriate," and we try and make it seem as if there is always something for them to catch that is specific to everyone in the room. But, if this was the remedy that was most effective, wouldn't we be seeing College and Young Adult programs highly attended? Wouldn't movements like Passion be seen in the local church? Wouldn't we see passionate worship in these programs? Wouldn't we see major transformation in these programs?

I'm not here to bash on current programs, emit my skepticism in a condescending forum, or suggest that I am the only holder of the best and most effective program. However, I am most definitely convinced that something needs to change and people's spiritual lives lay in the balance. The reality is true: more and more students leave their youth groups and either turn away and abandon, or seriously neglect their connection to the Body when they leave youth group, yet continue to pursue answers and truth in their lives without the guidance and fellowship of a body of believers.

And so begins this thought process.
What are your thoughts?
What is your church doing right now?
What are some of the reasons that you haven't found yourself plugged into a church?
For what reasons do you wish that you could get more involved?