(Don't) Break It Up!

"Mr. and Mrs. Jones, it's so nice to have you in our church. We hope you'll come again. Perhaps you'd be interested in the many programs we have available for families!"

"Well..."

"Mr. Jones, I'm sure you'd be interested in our special Bible study for married men. It meets on Thursdays at seven o'clock at Mr. Dinklemeyer's house."

"Oh, I..."

"And Mrs. Jones, we have a study going on for married women that I know you'll love. It's at six on Tuesdays at Mrs. Feedleburg's house."

"Ah..."

"Oh, and your daughter's around seventeen, isn't she? Well, we have a wonderful study for teen girls on Wednesdays at Mrs. Venderstoop's home at eight o'clock. Her eighteen-year-old daughter leads it."

"Er..."

"And I'm sure that fifteen-year-old son of yours would enjoy our study for teenage boys at Mr. Duckplatz's house at five-thirty on Mondays. Oh, and one more thing, you needn't worry about keeping little Harold with you in the pew during the service. Our nursery is wonderful - I'm sure Harold and Mrs. Pappaklookavitch will get along wonderfully. Well, have a wonderful week!"

This scenario is fictional (as you have probably already guessed as a result of those kooky names I put in), but it actually happens all the time. Whenever a new family enters a church, the various family members are "shunted" into different Bible study groups according to their respective ages and genders. This is done, apparently, because Christians feel that each person needs spiritual help specific to his or her needs, depending on what "group" he or she is in.

But what is the end result of this practice? It certainly cannot foster unity in the family, something our society is in dire need of. Should the church's goal really be to separate the family? I should think it would be more in line with Biblical teachings for the church to unite the family through its activites, not break it up.

One of the most difficult problems youth ministers face is bad relationships between young people and their parents. A barrier often seems to be up between adults and their children, one that keeps them from having true, meaningful relationships. Don't encourage or foster this situation in any way. As a youth minister, you should make sure that you're helping to unite parents and their kids in every way possible. Think of ways to involve parents in the spiritual instruction of their youth by the church. Make sure they're up to date on what their kids are learning, so that they can discuss it with them. Never underestimate the importance of this!

There's more to ministry than just youth. It involves the relationships the youth are forming with their friends and family as well. Make sure you keep this in mind as you seek to bring young people closer to the throne of Jesus Christ.