Guest post: 10 reasons why youth ministry matters now more than ever
This blog was originally posted here and was reposted with permission from Greg Stier.
According to George Barna, Generation Z is the first post-Christian generation in the history of the United States. (Youth groups can mobilize to reach them!)
A shocking report (greatopportunity.org) states 1,000,000 Christian teens per year will leave the faith. (Teens with a mission are more likely to stay engaged!)
Delegating teen ministry to family ministry alone, disregards teens who don’t have godly parents. (Traditional youth & family ministries can work together!)
Covid-induced isolation has led to on-going teen fear, desolation, frustration, drugs and suicide. (Teens need the kind of hope/togetherness youth groups have!)
Gender and sexual confusion has become an epidemic. (Teens need to process with other teens the clear answers from Scripture regarding gender and sex!)
The vast majority of people who believe in Jesus do so by the time they are 18 years of age. (Youth ministry seeks to reach them when they are most open!)
Teenagers can spread the Gospel rapidly if they’re trained to leverage their social influence. (Strategic youth leaders can coach their teens to do this effectively!)
Gen Z is hungry for a mission that matters. (Gospel Advancing youth ministries tap into that fire and desire and point it toward making and multiplying disciples!)
Teenagers are seeking to discover their identity. (An effective youth ministry can help teens find their identity as adopted children of the King of the universe!)
Teenagers are longing to belong. (Youth ministry can give teenagers the deep sense of belonging to a local and global family that they so desperately need!)