Landmark Baptist

Several years ago, I bought the following booklet: Critique of Modern Youth Ministry, Christopher Schlect, Moscow, ID: Canon Press, 1995, 23 pages. It is available in Google Books by clicking http://books.google.com/books?id=ciK_2KFT7TgC. The author is a former youth minister. (It is now available in a 2007 2nd Edition.)

A quite abridged version is found online here:
http://www.christianaction.org.za/articles/critiquemodyouthministeries.htm

This essay discusses what Schlect believes are the reasons behind the problem of a flawed youth ministry and proposes some solutions.

Christopher Schlect wrote:Rather than admonishing our young people with Paul’s mandate, “Flee youthful lusts” (2 Timothy 2:22), we provide a forum for youthful lusts to be pursued.

Yesterday I bought the following book: Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church: Inclusive Congregational, Preparatory, Missional, Strategic, By Mark Senter, Wesley Black, Chapman Clark, Malan Nel, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2001, 163 pages. A preview of it is available on Google Books by clicking http://books.google.com/books?id=1VgChUouXjUC

In Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church, the dialog "often gets downright feisty, four youth ministry academicians delineate their distinct philosophical and ecclesiological views regarding how youth ministry relates to the church at large--and leave a taste of what's profound and what's not in these four typologies: Inclusive congregational (Malan Nel). What happens when a church thoroughly integrates its adolescents, making them full partners in every aspect of congregational life? Preparatory (Wesley Black). Why and how should a church consider its teenagers as disciples-in-training and its youth ministry a school of preparation for future participation in church life? Missional (Chap Clark).What does a church look like, whose youth ministry does not necessarily nurture "church kids" but is essentially evangelistic? Whose youths and youth workers are considered missionaries? Strategic (Mark Senter). How feasible is it for a youth ministry to become a new church on its own--the youth pastor becoming the pastor, and the new church planted with the blessing of the mother church?" It could have been even feistier had they added a fifth view from someone such as Chris Schlect!

Bro. Vaughn,

I read the abridged version of Christopher Schlect's book. I liked what I read. I will have to obtain the full book.

I agree that much youth ministry in our churches of today has the wrong foundation. But, trying to convince many of this is like trying to argue with a rock. I do not believe that there is just a difference of opinion. I believe that it has deep roots in worldly wisdom. I also believe that whereas many pastors, that would not allow false doctrine to come through the front door, are opening the back door to false doctrine. It comes in, oftentimes, unaware to many, until it is too late.

I highly recommend it. It's been probably 10 or 12 years since I read it, but can't think of anything much I disagreed with. The other book mentioned above begins with pro-youth ministry presuppositions and then attempts to debate/define which of the four approaches will be the best/bring the most results.

I have now read Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church: Inclusive Congregational, Preparatory, Missional, Strategic and found it interesting. It was challenging for me to read, because it is written on the presupposition that the modern youth ministry idea is correct. So it really contains no theological defense or support for the foundational idea. It deals with the 4 views as each vie for being the "correct" or best way to do youth ministry. I can understand why it is written this way, considering the audience and that all four writers accept the supposition. But I would have gotten more out of it if there had been some biblical defense of the basic concept. Still worth reading.