Churches are challenged today more than ever to build a youth ministry that will lead youth to accept Jesus and to be committed to Him and His church. The numbers are startling: Three out of five believe you can earn your way into Heaven. It is a balancing act of good and bad. They accept the oriental philosophy of ying/yang and feel it applies to all areas of life. What is really disturbing is that eighty-three percent of youth see no difference between the God of Christians and the gods of the orient. (Barna)

Several leading youth organizations point to the pastor as being the most important person in a church youth ministry. This is surprising to say the least. Most consider the youth pastor or chairperson of the youth committee to be the most important. However, the pastor as the head cheerleader for the church, has to be involved, engaged and visible. A pastor who is content to leave it to staff or parents is hurting the church’s effort to win youth to Jesus and help them become committed Christians. It is up to the pastor to set forth God’s vision of the church, the whole church including youth.

We can’t forget the parent’s role. Too often the parents opt out of youth ministry. "We pay someone to do that." is an often-overheard remark in youth ministry meetings. Here is one part of the role of the pastor. He needs to remind parents that God has blessed them with children and their child’s salvation is their responsibility first and the church’s responsibility second. God holds parents accountable. Every parent of a youth should be involved in planning and ministry. Many churches become two churches: one for adults and children and one for youth. Each has their own activities, keep their own calendars, plan their own trips etc. etc. Only the youth ministries seeing youth saved and becoming committed Christians are the ones that are incorporated into the life of the church and fully supported by pastor and parents.

A growing church is one that doesn’t mind spending money. It is sad when a church has a huge saving account and won’t spend the necessary money on youth ministries. We are not about saving money but we are about saving souls. There are no more important souls that those of our children. I’m not talking about trips and pizzas; I’m talking about events, guest speakers, materials, and a host of other tools to reach youth. Nothing is cheap in this world and nothing is too good for the children of your household or God’s. Invest in the youth and your church will see a huge dividend.

Take a moment to consider how your church ministers to youth. What do they do, how is the church engaged, are parents involved, is the pastor a part of planning, do you have two churches? Pizza parties are great, so is volleyball but are youth coming to know Jesus and committed to being active in the church? Youth are not interested in any half-hearted programs or half-hearted leaders. In their youth – youth want excitement, commitment, and meaning or in other words. "If I have to die to the world you better make it worth my effort!" That is a strong way to put it but adults, leaders, parents and pastors need to step back and analyze the "other" messages being bombarded toward youth - nothing is dull, nothing half-hearted.