Problems from Readers
July 1, 1980
Monty Burnham, Westy Egmont, Richard Hagstrom, Gordon MacDonald and Paul Toms (see Forum, Spring issue) discussed the following letter. The response is based on their observations.
If you have a question you'd like discussed, send it to Leadership Problems, 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, Illinois 60187. All inquiries will be kept confidential.
Q
Facing difficult problems is what daily ministry is all about. But, no problem seems quite as baffling to me as the task of sustaining an effective youth ministry. In the different churches I have served, the youth ministry has had more ups and downs than a "pogo-stick."
I've read several books on how to have an effective youth ministry, and have tried through pastoral as well as lay staff to build a sustaining, long-term youth program. Most of the books say good programs start with good leadership. Yet I find that the most willing leaders of youth are quite young themselves, and aren't prepared to deal with the complex problems faced by adolescents. People who have the maturity usually feel they can no longer "relate to youth." Subsequently, the turnover rate of our youth leadership is incredibly high, and leaves in its wake a group of discouraged young people, disgruntled parents, and a frustrated pastor.
Can you steer me toward resource material or people who can help me resolve this dilemma?
A
Training youth "in the way they should go" must always be one of the top priorities of the local church. Therefore, your concern is one of the most critical questions facing any group of believers. Many of us struggle with this problem that's so basic in concept and yet so elusive in solution.
Although you rightly identify leadership as a key to building an effective youth ministry, at least ...
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