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Is your youth ministry relevant?

There could be many answers to this question. Popular answers might include: Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know. What is “relevant?”

For many youth ministries, the answer is depends on a deeper question. When we speak of relevancy, do we mean a relevancy that is wrapped up in culture, or a relevancy that is applicable and life-changing to students?

For far too many youth ministries, the answer seems to be the former. By trying to make youth groups and ministries “relevant,” many leaders, youth pastors, etc. have sold out to the popular culture around them. Go back 10 years. How would you describe a “cool” youth pastor? He probably had an earring, played acoustic guitar very well, and listened to awesome bands like Hanson and the Wallflowers (Okay, kidding about that last part.)

How would you describe the “cool” youth pastor now? Well, the look has changed a little bit. One piercing might not be enough. Tattoos could definitely be added. That acoustic has been traded it for something a little bit harder. Favorite bands? Maybe Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Underoath. In fact, today’s “cool” youth pastor might look like someone edgy on American Idol.

Maybe that’s a bad example, but hopefully you’re catching my drift. In attempts to be relevant to students, many youth ministries have become a part of the world and a part of the culture. Instead of discerning the culture, they have engulfed themselves in it, blurring the lines between an actual ministry and a trendy hangout place with moral teachings. 

We already tried this. It didn’t work. Youth ministries used to look hip and cool by having posters on the wall, videos playing, smoke machines going, strobe lights flashing, PowerPoint running, and a worship band playing. It worked for a little while, but after some time, people finally got bored and left. They didn’t need the youth ministry for that. They bought their own iPods, owned their own computers, and realized the church could no longer stay one step ahead of them. In fact, in a short time, it fell far behind.

Relevancy in youth ministry does not have to be about the latest trends, technology, or trends. While it is important to understand that’s happening in those areas, we do not have to drown ourselves in that culture to be relevant to students. The relevancy students need is something much deeper. Unfortunately, it is also harder to tap into, which is why many youth leaders opt for the easy way out.

Students need a youth ministry that is relevant on a spiritual level. Bleached hair, earrings, and guitars might attract attention, but they do not help students understand how to take the Word of God and apply it to daily life. Teenagers have to see that faith and the Bible should not be compartmentalized to Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights. Biblical teaching should permeate our entire lives and be displayed as we go about our business every second of every day.

Relevancy is about taking the words of Jesus and understanding our need to act, think, and talk differently because of the example He set before us. It’s about learning about Job and seeing how we can hold onto our faith when we go through difficult storms in life. Relevancy involves seeing how we can be obedience just like Isaiah when God sent Him to speak to Judah.

Relevancy is not about our programs, lock-ins, loud music, wild games, or ability to be involved in culture. Relevancy is about showing students how to apply the Word of God so it transforms their lives.

Tags: Relevancy, Relevant, Youth Ministry