Can we compete? Is that what we are called to do?

I think many church youth ministries have it wrong.

Pretty bold statement?  Maybe, but I think there is something to it.

Maybe I should rephrase that comment, maybe it's not so much that they have it wrong per say, but they attack it from the wrong direction.

What are we using to draw kids into youth ministry?

Pizza and Video games?  They can get that at home, or just about anywhere they want.  But wait, what, we don't have to pay for the pizza, oh I'm there.....

Why do we try to compete with the world.  Shouldn't we try to get the world to compete with us?  Get the world to offer what God (and we as youth pastors can offer)  A genuine relationship? 

Now, I'm not saying that pizza, gyms, videogames, coffee bars etc..... are bad, in fact far from it.  But are we making them the central focus of what our ministry is.  Or are we making the focus of our ministry showing the relationship God can offer and wants to have with them.

Remember, Things of the world pass away, Sega Genesis just doesn't pass for fun like it used to anymore  cell phones, computers, they all keep changing and eventually they lose the luster that they once held.  But what about Relationships?  That is a thing that everyone will always need.

Come to church, come to youth group, because we want to spend time as a group, actually getting to know eachother.  We want to see you grow in your faith, we want to help you discover what Christ actually did for you.

Is your ministry more about fun and game, or about Growth and Fellowship?

Is mine??????  Sometimes, I'm not so sure

But it should be