Fewer Future Youth Workers? | College Ministry Thoughts

Chuck BomarMore Posts Fewer Future Youth Workers?

11 View Comments October 12, 2009

11 Comments

Betsy Prosise
October 12, 2009 at 2:26 pm · Reply

I am coming from an insiders view as a youth ministry major at a Bible college. There are a few different things I have noticed the last couple years as I have been working on my education.

First, enrollment in our Bible college/Christian universities are down, at least in the midwest. In working with our admissions and outreach department, I have seen how we are just not getting as many people coming to study for ministry. And, in many cases, our colleges offer enough other degrees that people may come for a Christian education but not to pursue ministry. This has become more apparent as I have learned that over half of the student body where I attend is going for degrees besides a ministry.

(2) I think that a lot of people are becoming more scared of ministry. Too often, people have seen their own youth minister last a short time at their church or have a bad ministry experience and have decided they don’t want that for themselves. I had three friends in high school that talked seriously about going into youth ministry, but decided to go other routes because of the problems they had seen. Unfortunately, I understand that since I grew up in a minister home and most people are surprised that I am going into ministry because of some of my family’s church experiences. Also, in many ways it is looked down upon to be a minister. In today’s culture, it is a big deal to have a prominent job and to make a lot of money–and that just doesn’t happen in ministry.

(3) I do think it is also important to think about people who decide to go into different ministry. So often, once we are in Bible college, we are pushed to look at all different kinds of ministries. And then we go those directions. I have learned that my passion is for college ministry. Another one of my friends has realized that she wants to spend her life doing overseas youth ministry. But then again, I do have friends that want to go into youth ministry. However, often times things such as church planting can be appealing because in planting a church you are starting new. You do not go into a church with a history and it can be a lot easier to not have to deal with the history and politics that are already established in a church.

I am interested in seeing what other people think on this issue.
Adam Lehman
October 12, 2009 at 7:34 pm · Reply

My thoughts:

1) “programmatic” ministries that we’ve developed produce fewer personal connections with the youth pastor, thus fewer and fewer students want to emulate that.

2.) the newest growing churches are questioning whether or not having a youth ministry is even needed. (elevation church in north carolina).

3.) postmodern shift in college has left more and more people simply wanting to be a part of a community more so than being clergy.

4.) I don’t think this is a bad thing. I think it is good. Imagine (this is an extreme scenario) the good that could happen outside of the church walls if ALL church staff became bi-vocational. What if all of our most trained, clearest communicators started working in regular jobs and rubbing shoulders with non-christians. I think we’d see the largest, healthiest growth that we’ve ever seen in our country (maybe in the world….)
Daniel Griswold
October 12, 2009 at 7:59 pm · Reply

There may be less future youth ministers in colleges, but I wonder if that is tied to less people going into ministry in general. Several denominations are talking about how to gain more ministers in general. I also wonder if people are leaving the stereotype “Test ministry out in student Ministry” stepping stone approach. This often marginalized the importance of the youth in the congregation, because of the subcontext – that eventually their ym was going to be a “real minister”.

I wonder too, though, how many people are going through college in order to get the Bachelor’s, and then go onto seminary and discover their call there. I went to seminary specifically to be a professional youth minister and wanted to give students the qualifications of a pastor – a Pastor of the Youth. In a world where the Bachelor’s is more and more being like High School 1.5 – many may be simply doing engjneering degrees, and then following their call to mninistry later on. At Gordon Conwell, there were as many people from non-Christian school backgrounds as there were Bible based degrees.

This is such a complex sociological question that you could do quite a bit of research discovering whether or not other titles have been taking over ym positions as well. What about Family Ministers, Discipleship Directors, and other value based pastoral positions. As youth ministers grow older they often take on more than youth ministry, or slide into other Congregant Growth positions.
Joel Rainey
October 12, 2009 at 8:15 pm · Reply

Here’s my two cents. I’d love to go into youth ministry with a major focus on college kids. I’m not sure how it is around the rest of the world, but in Georgia it seems like the church “forgot” about them. The downside to going into Bible College is quite honestly, the price. Where as some colleges around here are 3000/yr, many Bible Colleges are in upwards of 20K. As far as what is seen around campus and this is from a public college view: It’s almost as if the college age students are turning away from the church in general. Anyways, just throwing in my opinion and what I, as a 24yr old, sees around town. Any comments, criticism is openly welcomed (otherwise, how could we grow)
Chuck
October 12, 2009 at 10:08 pm · Reply

Betsy. thanks for your thoughts. you mention more are thinking about church planting to have something “new.” do you think this is healthy? why/why not?
Chuck
October 12, 2009 at 10:13 pm · Reply

adam. good thoughts. yes, more are re-thinking whether age-stage ministries are necessary. the spectrum is wide – one end separates kids through programs the other tries to integrate everything and avoids any separation. i’m of the camp that it isn’t an either/or issue, but both and. the question is how do we not undermine true community and yet still meet specific age-stages where they are? and, particularly from an evangelistic perspective. in my church i’m constantly thinking through what this looks like. most importantly (i think) it’s important to make sure students are not on an island – because i think this is a major contributor to the detachment of college-age people.
Chuck
October 12, 2009 at 10:14 pm · Reply

joel. yes! ministry doesn’t typically pay off $50k+ of school debt. that’s why i love schools like Eternity Bible College that are committed to getting people who desire to be in full-time ministry through school with a great education but debt free! http://www.eternitybiblecollege.com
Chuck
October 12, 2009 at 10:17 pm · Reply

daniel. good thought about ministry in general. my brain didn’t really go there. but, i would say that i hear a ton of thought about church planting. there does seem to be a discontent with the church infrastructures we’ve seen the past 3-4 decades – that certainly isn’t a new conversation. also, i agree with the bachelor degree in another field of study, then seminary. but 10 years ago people were going to seminary so that they could get a youth pastor position. now, yes, i think it’s more ministry in general – all kinds of different positions – including the arts.
Brooks
October 13, 2009 at 8:34 am · Reply

Just a few thoughts as well:

1. Seminaries are really pushing church planting as the be all end all area to go. It is a hot field.

2. I agree there is a disallusionment the GenY-X folks have seen in churches. They would rather go for something that is a fresh start than redirect/fight for a new perspective in an established church. Why put up with ‘junk’ on a staff when you can use your creativity to go for something new. This is a generalization, but many youth ministry/college ministry guys are creative, passionate, and have the energy. You don’t see many 55 year old pastors being church planters unless they are splitting from their previous church. However, I’m coming from a Southern Baptist prespective in all of this.

All that to say, it’s good for church planting, but I also think it’s a sifting time for churches and youth ministry. As many churches are dying here in the South, they will have to see what is important and be more effective in all areas including youth ministry. Hope that makes sense.

Thanks,
Betsy Prosise
October 13, 2009 at 3:31 pm · Reply

Well, when it comes to church planting, I think that there are a lot of pro and cons. I will not say that church planting is at all bad…but sometimes it isn’t needed. I am at school in a big midwest city and within 30 miles of my school, there are 1000 churches, yet, I know of new church plants that are near other good striving churches. I don’t know that if that is really necessary.

I think the newness of a church can be good, especially for leadership at points. But I also think that the history and tradition of a church is also beneficial. I say that even after I have seen church politics tear apart churches and their ministers…including one church that caused my family a lot pain.

I don’t think there is a yes/no answer as to whether or not it is healthy to start a church plant because of the newness factor. In some cases it is necessary, because of the bad reputation of churches or the lack of churches in an area. In other cases, the churches in the area just need to step up and do their job.
Scott Carver
November 3, 2009 at 11:28 am · Reply

Chuck-

I’ve heard that there are churches now that are even beginning to “phase out” their youth ministries and make Jr High-Sr. High- 20 somethings all one big group ministry (or a small church). Is this a shift you have seen anywhere?

You had some rich comments on the ideas about fewer people pursuing youth ministry. I think we are seeing fewer people step up to leadership in ministry for a few reasons. I think people aren’t too fueled to try and minister in the “traditional context” that is why we are seeing so much excitement with new church plants.

I also agree on the whole cost/effort of education. I am still pursuing my masters in ministry and wonder if I will ever be supported with enough money to pay off school loans.

God bless- and would love to hear what you think!