12. Blogs about the 80%

There is an obvious divide in youth circles that separate the old school from the new school. This doesn't even necessarily have anything to do with age. In fact, age really isn't a determining factor.

When I talk about old school vs. new school I am talking about the optimist versus the pessimist. I am definitely a youth group optimist. I believe that this is a generation of change, a generation that will make a definitive impact on the world and on the landscape of Christianity.

But maybe I am an optimist because I have only seen successful youth programs. The youth group I came through and got saved in now has well over 10 people in full-time Christian ministry and in keeping up with the old crew on Facebook we have about 80% who have STAYED strong in their faith.

The same is true of my current church. The foundation was set with a strong leadership program and a serviceable college program and we as well have about an 80% success rate. So when I hear other guys bashing youth groups and youth pastors, especially a fellow one, I am baffled.

This is what happened when I ran across a blog post from a guy named Andy Gill at www.youthmin.org where their slogan is "Everyday Youth Pastors being Everyday Extraordinary."

Here is the link .

This man apparently has had different experiences than I have, because even the title is hostile and inappropriate. My youth pastor didn't fail me, and I am not failing my kids. And I know of a multitude of imperfect men being empty vessels for the Lord as youth pastors who are also not failing. But I guess he is old school.

Here are some of the statements he made that are why "we are failing."

When the deepest books we read as youth pastors are “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan or “Sex God” by Rob Bell (which are written at 4th grade reading levels)

I have never read anywhere in the Bible where Jesus told His disciples that they had to have a reading level above 4th grade in order to follow Him. I believe whole-heartedly that "Leaders are readers" but this has nothing to do with our college freshman leaving the church.

Side note: My book "Can I get Baptized in Fruit Punch" was written at a 5th grade level, so you should be okay.

When the top blog hits are “5 Epic Youth Group Games”

This is so misguided because there is no way to know if a youth pastor was the reader of the blog. I have never been a game guy, but when we have a game, one of my volunteers or one of my students pick it out and they run it.

On a separate note, so what?

When we purchase our sermons off line instead of digging into the word ourselves and soaking in scripture and allowing God to speak through that.

This one is highly offensive. As the owner/operator of www.youth-sermons.com this is bad for business. :)

On a serious note, I have been running youth sermon sites for more than 5 years and here is my customer make-up.

1. Bi-vocational youth pastors: Some states have up to 50% of their pastors as bi-vocational. Try to find time to work a 40 hour a week job, be a father and husband, and a good youth pastor, and write quality sermons every week. Our company unapologetically assists these people.

2. Good shepherds: Some guys are great youth pastors because they know how to minister to their group, but they can't write a sermon to save their life. That is where we come in.

There is nothing wrong with getting inspiration from someone else's sermons. It is equivalent to reading a commentary on the text.

When 50% of youth group consists of “chubby bunny” and youtube videos

I am a double failure for this one. When we play "chubby bunny" we put it directly on youtube.


What do you think of Mr. Gill's assessments?