I think this is why Shane Claiborne’s book “The Irresistible Revolution” has become so hugely popular among young people because it presents a radically holistic way of following Jesus that we haven’t been talking about in most of our churches.

Blessings
db

http://jdgreear.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/07/acts-2028-and-the-dilemma-of-church-growth.html

Many churches have a disconnect between youth and the rest of church. They’re among youth in Sunday School, Sunday Morning Worship, and the Wednesday Night Youth Program. They go on mission trips and recreational trips together. Youth ministry is big.

Then they wander into a no man’s land too old for the youth and not quite adults. They don’t fit in with the adults anyway. No exciting programs; not much entertainment.

I grew up in relatively small churches. Some youth activities but not a lot. I was forced to go to church on Sunday night. Every Sunday night. I missed the entire era of the TV series Bonanza and Disney. Sometimes my two brothers and I were the only youth at church on Sunday night. We were forced to sing hymns and listen to dad preach and teach the Bible to adults. No Wednesday night youth program. I was forced to go to the Wednesday night Bible Study and Prayer Meeting with a bunch of old codgers. Every Wednesday of my life.

I got to know and respect those old folks. When I started becoming an adult I already knew a little about them, and very little about Bonanza and Disney. I knew church must be important since I’d been forced to attend. I saw that my parents really believed and practiced their Christianity. With or without a youth director, and with or without other youth in attendance, I learned God’s Word. Maybe especially on Sunday and Wednesday nights. Our youth were thoroughly mixed in with the adults (not just the adult youth workers). Our youth were just a part of the church. I’ve never been able to get rid of that insidious influence. My two brothers and I are all Southern Baptist pastors today.
Every now and then I even get to watch a Bonanza rerun. Life is good.
David R. Brumbelow

My guess is that when you hear the term ‘Youth Pastor’ thrown around by some churches, you may have the image of some kid who doesn’t know his own theology, wants to be a relationship counselor, and primarily spends his time planning paintball games and XBox festivals.

Let me say that when I use the term ‘Youth Pastor’ I think of one of our elders who has oversight for the ministry, who is in accountability to the rest of our elders, and who understands that his role in the discipleship of youth, in most cases, is primarily supplemental to that of the parents.

Maybe our disagreement is just semantics.

Then again, in the book of Acts, the Christians gave everything they owned to the support of the work and poor? If we follow your logic of not doing something because the Bible doesn’t mention it, then the question that begs to be asked is are you giving away everything to support God’s work?

So, if you are heading up the youth ministry in your church or leading it, are you failing God by doing so? Isn’t that what you said parents should be doing?

As you infer here, parents should be the main ones accountable for keeping up with the discipleship progress of their own children. I agree that the church should help parents in this task, and provide resourcs and support in order to help them do it better. But, I see nothing wrong with other people (i.e. youth directors, workers) coming alongside parents in a support role as well.