I read with great interest Kurt Johnston’s blog post about “The Program Problem.” It mirrors a similar blog post that I wrote in defense of programs in ministry. Kurt wrote this –
My working definition of youth ministry “programs” has always simply been: The stuff you do.
It seems as if there is a fairly strong resistance to programs in many circles of youth ministry today. Yet, by my definition this means they are against doing stuff, which I know isn’t true.
So….is my working definition wrong?
Are youth pastors really against “doing stuff”?
If youth pastors aren’t against “doing stuff”, but they are against “programs”, what then are they doing, and what do they call it?
Is what they call it, just another word for “programs” or is it really something different, better, etc.?
I thought about simply commenting on it, but I felt that it would work better in a blog post. I have been thinking about this for a while (obviously if I wrote a blog post about it 5 months ago). I don’t think anyone has a problem with programs per-se or the church “doing stuff.” I think everyone would agree that the church should do stuff, and probably do lots of more stuff than its doing.
What I believe that most youth ministers are subconsciously rebelling against is the fact that we expect teens to COME TO our ministry programs, rather than GOING TO the teens and ministering to them where they are at. Come to youth group, come to church, come come come.
Jesus never made people come to Him. He went to the woman at the well. He went to His disciples. He went to people in need. Yes, people came to Him but Jesus never made than an expectation. He didn’t sit in an ivory tower or a temple, but He went to where the people were.
You might be asking, “Didn’t you DEFEND the program in your article?” I would answer a “Yes, but…” to that. I don’t think you can avoid programs or “doing stuff” in our current model of “The Church.” Unless we can totally overhaul our whole way of doing Church, having programs and events is a good thing.
That should not stop us from going to the students. We should always keep an eye on opportunities to minister INTO the lives of students. You can’t program that, but you can be prepared for it.
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Tags: Programs, Youth Ministry
