A generation ago, youth ministry was virtually synonymous with high
school ministry. All of the major Christian youth movements, such as
Youth for Christ and Young Life, were aimed at high school teenagers,
and in many aspects, still are. Junior highers were still considered
children-too immature. But times have changed. It was in 1979 that
Dr. Urie Bronfenbrenner of Cornell University observed, "The
adolescents today are the 12-year-olds, and the 11-year-olds, and the
10-year-olds. That is, they are having the experiences that five years
earlier, adolescents didn't have until they were 13, 14, and 15; and they,
in turn, are having the experiences that adolescents used to have when
they were 16, 17, and 18."
A few years later Dr. Victor Stursburger of the American Academy of Pediatrics wrote: "Short of being in a war, these are the most dangerous times adolescents have ever had to face. There are more choices teens have to make at younger ages and less guidance to make those choices. Now, 14-year-olds are having to decide Am I going
have s*x or not? Am I going to use drugs or not? Am I going to drink alcohol or not?' Two generations ago those decisions were made in college. A generation ago they were made in high school. Now they're being made in junior high school."
And the trend has continued. All of us know of eight-, nine, and
0-year-olds who are struggling with issues that in previous gener-
ations were reserved for the teen years and beyond.
The cutting edge of youth ministry in today's church is at the
junior high and middle school level. This is not to say that high school
ministry is any less important now than it ever has been-but more
and more youth workers are recognizing that if youth ministry is to be
taken seriously at all, then junior high ministry has to be given a higher
priority.
On the Niagara River, there is a place called Redemption Point.
It is this spot that is considered to be the last reasonable rescue
opportunity for people who have been caught adrift in the river. If
people are swept into the river and drift beyond Redemption Point,
attempts to fish them out will be fruitless; they will plunge over the
raging waterfall and most surely die. All resources, therefore, are
implemented to snatch people from the river before Redemption Point.
I believe that junior highers have reached Redemption Point, It is here that their developmental course will largely be set for life. "To a many young people at this age are in danger of "going over the fall
with little chance of rescue. Now is the time for the church to implement every available resource to reach out to these kids before we lose them.
Adolescent psychologist Gary Downing, who has also served as church youth minister, expresses it well:
Because early adolescent growth has accelerated so much over the last 20 years... we must rethink our assumptions, our strategies, and our programs in order to respond to the changing needs of kids. We must overcome our ignorance, apathy, and our stereotypes so that we do not lose a whole generation of people so desperately in need of our love and concern. We cannot afford to dismiss this young subculture as "too squirrelly, too energetic, too disrespectful, or too shallow" to be worthy of our time and resources.We cannot expect to "warehouse" this group for several years and expect that they will be waiting for us when we decide we are ready
for them. They won't be there tomorrow because we aren't here today
when they need us the most."
The junior high years offer us a unique opportunity for ministry in the local church. At no other time in a person's life are so many options considered, changes made, and ives snaped. It is not a time for baby-sitting but for loving attention. we need to surround our junior
highers with caring adults who are interested in them and willing to mentor them in the Christian faith. "The most cost-effective program in any church is a strong junior high department," says Doug Murren, a pastor and leader in the modern church-growth movement.
"Junior high school is the make-
it-or-break-it time for children, in my
opinion.... Our best efforts and budgeting
need to be aimed at doing a good job with
kids in this age bracket."
I have always loved the picture that
Scripture provides of the boy Jesus,coming
of age as a young adolescent. Luke tells the story-perhaps with a smile on his face as he writes-of a 12-year-old boy separating from his parents (literally) and beginning his preparation for life as an adult.
When Mary and Joseph finally catch
up with him, they find him in the temple
courts sitting with the teachers, "listening to them and asking them questions." He wasn't shown to the playground or led off to the youth group for fun and games. Instead he was treated with dignity and respect and
given the attention that he deserved. And remember that these teachers didn't realize who he was. They didnt know they were talking to the Son of God.
That's why Luke comments that "they were amazed at his understanding." I am impressed with these teachers who were willing
to take time to listen to a 12-year-old boy.
What do you expect from junior highers? Too many people in the church answer, "Not much." But the time has come for a new way of thinking about this age group. I believe that if we start taking junior highers seriously, and begin to give them the kind of attention they
deserve, even skeptics will be amazed.
Every year his parents
went to Jerusalem fof
the Feast of thePassover. When he was 12years old, they went up to the Feast, according to thecustom. After the Feast
was over, while his parents
were returning home, the
boy Jesus stayed behind in
Jerusalem, but they were
unaware of it. Thinking he
was in their company, they
traveled on for a day. Then
they began looking for him
among their relatives and
friends. When they did not
find him, they went back
to Jerusalem to look for
him. After three days they
found him in the temple
courts, sitting among the
teachers, listening to them
and asking them questions.
Everyone who heard him
was amazed at his
understanding and his
answers.
-Luke 2:41-47
-Orchidaceae
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