Give Up Youth Ministry for Lent?

Youth ministry does not begin and end with the weekly youth group meeting. That being said, it is a significant piece of building relationships to make disciples of Jesus.

So my question is "What does Lent do to your youth ministry schedule?"

In my visits over the years (within the AFLC and outside of it), I get three general responses:

#1) No Change
The church season comes and the church season goes. The youth ministry schedule stays the same. Blessed be the name of consistency!

#2) Big Days, Big Changes
Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and Easter bring some radical changes (i.e. Ash Wed service is in place of youth group, Good Friday cancels out youth group for the week, etc.) The youth ministry schedule celebrates the big church calendar days with the rest of the congregation. Blessed be the name of celebration!

#3) Complete Shift
A weekly lenten service replaces Wednesday youth group (if that's when you have it) for the weeks leading up to Easter. It's as if we ask teens to give up youth group for Lent. Blessed be the name of lenten services!

I do have some personal preferences, and from years growing up until now I have been involved in, understand the value of, and ministered in all three. But your approach is much more interesting to me.

So, what's going on? What's good and what's difficult?

"Super" Applies to New England

My dad delivers mail to Tom Brady's grandpa. He has brought boxes of memorabilia to Tom's grandpa sent through USPS. Being a rural mail carrier, when something bigger than the mailbox is sent my dad gets to navigate the long driveway to get the box to the front door. Hardly a claim to fame, I find it one of the most motivating reasons to watch this year's Super Bowl because New England has been overpowering.

It has been a horrible year for me in making NFL predictions, (my fantasy football team placed last in the regular season for my league) but this one should be pretty clean cut.

Patriots 77, Giants 17

OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but I don't think NY can play with NE. Yes, I know the regular season finale was close. Yes, I know the Giants look like a different team in the playoffs. Yes, I know Tom Brady is limping around...

But NE has been unstoppable (CC: 18-0). NE has broken records left and right (CC: Brady's TDs, Moss' TDs, most points in a season, and so on). NE has experience and talent (CC: 3 other Super Bowl rings).

And New York! They've got the wrong Manning (CC: Peyton won last year). They've got the wrong mentality (CC: Buress' comments about NY WRs equal to NE WRs?!?). They were beat 41-10 by the VIKINGS!

Even Packer fans can appreciate that reality. It looks like "Super" doesn't describe the upcoming NFL Championship but rather the New England Patriots.

My dad should get ready to make another delivery.

February Moment

This picture is our AFLC Youth Min "Moment" of the month. Our friends at the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (www.cpyu.org) highlighted this Diesel ad that appeared in the February 2008 issue of Teen Vogue (p. 11). It is intended to take a snapshot of the culture and to interact on it as we seek to shepherd students.

What thoughts does it bring to you about today's teens and youth ministry?

Join the discussion!