Introduction
Different denominations now see a need to have youth Ministry (Church). Since they now recognize that it is a special arm of the church that needs to be well established and structured. In doing this, there are challenges of how to grow and develop the youth ministry (Church) to become a Christ-like Church. Since they are the future of the main (adult) Church. These challenges associated with the youth ministry needs to be addressed thoroughly in order to create a sustainable ministry.
Before I move further in addressing the challenges associated with the youth ministry, we need to define some terms such as:
- Challenge
- Development (to develop)
- Youth
- Ministry
- Youth ministry
Challenge:
- Challenge according to Macmillan advanced learners dictionary is something that needs a lot of skill, energy and determination to deal with or achieve, especially something you have never done before and will enjoy doing.
- It is an action or idea that questions whether something is true, accurate, or legal.
- Challenge is a task that test someone’s skill, competence and ability.
- Challenges is also something that needed to be solved.
It should be noted that a challenge is something that you face. The outcome may not be something you want but it is something you can overcome which display your special skill, ability and capacity.
Development:
- Development means change, growth, increase, or improvement over a period of time.
- It can also be defined as the process of creating a new product or method
- It is the process in which someone or something grows or changes and becomes more advanced: healthy growth and development.
Who is a Youth?
- A young man. The period between childhood and adult age, a period of transition from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s independence.
- A youth is categorize to be between the age of puberty and adolescent.
- In the eyes of the Vatican, a youth is defined as a person between the ages of 16 and 35. This age range extends beyond what is typically considered a “youth” in the united nations
When it comes to characteristics of a youth, environmental factors needs to be considered – a youth in the western world may be as young as ten while in this part of the world it starts from eighteen years.
Ministry:
- The word ministry comprises of 3Ms: A “men” with a “message” for a “mission”
- Ministry is a God given assignment for His disciples.
- Ministry also implies a sense of being duty-bound to work under God’s authority as His loyal servant.
Youth Ministry:
Youth ministry is a broad term that encompasses a variety of ministerial programming and outreach activities that are targeted at youths. The specific goals and activities may vary from one church to another. However, youth ministry programs tend to share the same general goals:
- To encourage youths to know God’s Word
- Develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and become active in the church community.
Major Challenges Associated With The Youth Ministry Development.
Peer Pressure:
This is a very important and prominent part of the challenges associated with the youth ministry. Strong negative influences of friends and associates of these youths is a key faction hindering their growth and development. The Bible warns us not to get caught “in the way of evildoers” (Proverbs 4:14-15). Peer pressure can sometimes lead us to ungodly actions or sinning. For example, we may be tempted to partake in activities that go against our morals or treat others unkindly because other expect or want us to
Dysfunctional Homes:
Dysfunctional families are not able to effectively provide for the emotional, psychological, social and academic needs of their children. Children as such are exposed to neglect, abuse, conflicts and poor communication. This can lead to mental health, behavioural and social challenges in children. Also, it is one of the challenges associated with the youth ministry that affect both the present and the future of the young people in these families. The Lord has said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (Matthew 12:25). A great lesson to be learned in life is to live in harmony with others. Where there is disharmony, unhappiness and tragedy result. If parents are not united this will to a large extent affect the children. Majority of our youth should have develop greatly if not for the setback as a result of dysfunctional family life.
Lack of Good and Godly Leaders:
In ability of church leaders to get the right set of people that will lead the youth ministry is one of the big challenges associated with the youth ministry, some of the youth ministries are like sheep without shepherd. Matthew 9:36-38 (NKJV) says ‘But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few’. youth ministry need leaders that will be committed to the work of the gospel in nurturing them in the ways of the Lord.
Desire to be independent of the main Church:
Some of the youth Ministry did not want them to be controlled by the head church, they love to do things in their own way. They are not interested in correction and discipline. As spiritual parents to them Bible encourage us in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Excessive Quest for Money and Material Things:
In Nigeria today, people struggle to make money every day. In the process a lot of crimes are committed, for instance, kidnapping, armed robbery and cybercrime. The quest to make money at all cost has risen to an alarming proportion even among the christian youths. Excessive desire for material wealth, a common phenomenon nowadays, is caused by our society’s twisted values. The church and the society as a whole recognizes those who cut corners and make their wealth without caring to ask how they acquired their wealth. Among christian youths, hard work as a value is not cherished. As a result, many Christian youths struggle daily to acquire wealth mostly by crooked means, they fail to realize what the Lord said in 1 Tim. 6:10 ‘For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows’.
Improper planning in establishing the youth ministry:
According to Luke 14:28-30 (NLT) “For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you”. Most of the churches with youth ministry today did not research and plan well before taking off, more of them are just imitator, imitating other organization. There is a saying that if you fail to plan you are planning to fail. They fail to realize that every great building starts with a building plan
Note: Every beautiful house is as a result of a beautiful plan.
Hunger for Power and Position than Christ-like life:
Generation 21 is spiritually hungry. This does not mean that they are seeking after the God of the Bible – rather they realize that there is a higher reality, that there is something beyond the purely natural world we live in. Postmodern young people don’t need to be convinced of the fact that there is a higher power nor of the existence of the supernatural. What they do want to know is why they should choose Christianity rather than any other of the multitude of spiritual options available. As far as many of them are concerned, Christianity was a modernist experiment that has proved to fall short of answering some of the critical questions of post-modernity. This is largely due to over-reaction of many traditional Christians to new expressions of faith and culture.
Poor Concerned with Social Ethics:
- One of the greatest challenges facing Christendom in the twenty-first century will be our response as a community of faith to the multitude of ethical dilemmas already emerging in general society. Abortion, homosexuality, poverty, capitalism, gender, sexuality, genetical engineering, affirmative action, revolution, ethnic cleansing are all old issues which will assume greater significance as the new century dawns. Postmodernism demands less rigid and definitely less judgmental answers. Christians everywhere must be prepared to give an answer for their faith in a gracious and humble manner. The iron rod orthodoxy of the past is over. It no longer even gets a hearing. If we want to be salt and light – we must be prepared to reopen debates and find answers that truly resonate with a world in need. I am sure that we have heard the end of long scholastic debates about predestination, charismatic gifts and dispensationalism. Social ethics is now the new issue at hand – and one on which the Christian church and its relevance to youth will stand or fall.
The Bible is not directive and/or silent on may of the social and ethical issues with which we are confronted today. There is room for debate and argument. Lets not hang onto rationalism and modernism as if they are the world views that came with the Bible. Lets agree to stop debating the unimportant – how many angels can fit onto the head of a pin12 and predestination fall into the same category in postmodernism.
Reference:
- Macmillan Advanced Dictionary
- Holy Bible
- Dr. Dare’s Lecture
Written by Ilesanmi David Olaoluwa