Youth Ministry:
before it's too late

17-Egbert, Jeb.jpg (63805 bytes) By Jeb Egbert

Jesus spoke about planting seeds in a parable recorded in Matthew 13:1-10; 18-23. He said that a farmer sowed his seed and some fell along the path, and some fell on rocky places and some fell among thorns. Some of the seed fell on good soil, and that was where the growth occurred.

Several years back, George Barna wrote a book titled Generation Next. In it he wrote: "Churches spend the vast majority of their evangelistic dollars (more than 70 percent of it, by some of our preliminary research) on trying to penetrate the adult market. After decades and decades of such toil, we can confidently announce the results: such efforts bear little fruit."

Meanwhile, Barna’s research points to more fertile soil. "About three-quarters of all people who have consciously, intentionally and personally chosen to embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior did so before their 18th birthday."

He goes on to write that roughly half of American Christians made the decision to become Christians when they were between the ages of 8 and 13.

Why youth ministry? Why should we, as Christians, be so animated in reaching out to youngsters and sharing the gospel message with them? Why are experiences such as the Summer Educational Program so important to teens? Because they need Jesus just as desperately as anyone. The only difference seems to be that when the gospel is planted in the soil of youth ministry, a greater chance exists that a bumper crop will grow.

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Youth Ministry: before it's too late

Youth Ministry:
before it's too late