“So I will praise You on the mountain / And I will praise You when the mountain’s in my way
You’re the summit where my feet are / So I will praise You in the valleys all the same …”
This past summer I had the privilege of leading a team of students to Ireland to partner with Calvary Cork in putting on a Vacation Bible School. During the dusk hours of evening, one of the leaders happened to hear some singing in the back of the house we were staying at. Upon investigation, the words from the worship song “Highlands” could be heard ringing out over Irish fields in the cool night air. No instruments, no band, no adults, just a group of our teenagers singing in heartfelt worship. None of the adults on the trip had initiated this worship session and none of the students had announced it. It was not planned at all. It was just a spontaneous act of worship by a group of young people from this current generation.
A lot has been said and written about the youth of this generation. Some of it good, some of it bad; some of it justified, some of it not. What often gets overlooked though is the work God is doing amongst them. Where I live in California, in the past few months alone, there have been multiple collaborative worship nights for area youth where hundreds of students turn out to publicly praise Jesus. I realize this might be more the exception than the rule, but either way I think it speaks to something bigger. It is my conviction that God has not forsaken His redemptive work in our youth. Gen Z is no different from every generation before us in that God will always maintain a remnant that seeks after Him. And as history has proven repeatedly, the more the enemy resists Christians, the more the testimony of Christ goes forth. The more this generation is offered empty and vapid solutions to the identity crisis they face, the more the solid truth of Christ stands out as something tangible they can hold on to.
My trip to Ireland initiated several conversations about what it means to minister to this current generation. It reaffirmed the conviction that God has reserved for Himself a countless multitude of youth who have not bowed the knee to the gods of this world. Recently I was asked to share any advice I might have regarding ministering to youth. I in no way consider myself an expert in the field or a scholar of the varying approaches to youth ministry, but what follows are a few honest thoughts on the topic.
Regarding Discipling
I think one of the temptations those ministering to youth face is the temptation of trying to be something they are not. I suppose this temptation exists for anyone in any ministry, but you tend to see it a lot in youth ministry. As a result of wanting to disciple and build friendship and trust with students, adults can tend to act like kids in an effort to relate to them. But in a social media driven world where everyone pretends to be something they are not, people crave authenticity. Those who are simply authentic tend to garner respect. Being relatable does not mean we pretend to be like the person we are ministering to; it means we love them where they are at without compromising who we are. In my experience, students respond more positively to someone who allows them to be teenagers, not someone who tries to be a teenager themselves. Childlike and childish are vastly different. Childlike hallows the innocence and wonder of childhood while simultaneously accepting the godly process of maturation. Childish refuses the maturing process. But it is maturity that those who are immature need to have modeled to them. Be young at heart, but do not compromise maturity in the process.
Regarding Teaching
In our technologically stimulated world, it is not uncommon to hear talk about the low attention spans of our current culture, and not just with the youth. But I do not believe that means we change the material. It will always be the Word of God, through the power of His Holy Spirit, that changes lives. It is never the person who is delivering the message (or how entertaining that person is) that has the power to change someone. So, we continue to teach His Word and allow His Spirit to move in people’s lives.
A Couple Tools
One practical tool I have found to be useful is the art of asking questions. If you see the attention of your students fading, ask a question. It engages them and allows them to be a part of the lesson. Literally no matter where you are at in your lesson, you can always stop to ask questions like, “How is this applicable to us?” or “What do you think this verse means?”
Another practical tool I have found to be useful is storytelling. This might seem like an easy and obvious one, but it does take some forethought. Ideally stories relate to the section of Scripture you are teaching. I have too often found myself telling stories that might be entertaining but do not have a tie-in. Ultimately you want something that will connect listeners to the passage you are studying.
Final Thoughts
We often overthink it. At least I know I do. When I think about my own life, the people who have impacted my faith journey the most are those who were simply there for me when I needed someone to talk to. Many of them impacted my faith not by words they said but by how they lived their lives. Anyone willing to take the time to show up for our youth and willing to honor the Lord in how they live their life, will find themselves having an impact far greater than they realize.
To read more from Daniel visit www.danielhamlin.org
