It is not enough to show how much needs to be done, and to urge the youth to act a part. They must be taught how to labor for the Master. They must be trained, disciplined, drilled, in the best methods of winning souls to Christ. – ChS 30.5

Often in youth ministry settings, the easy route that many take is to dwell on God’s plan for their lives and the incredible amount of potential they have to make an impact in this world.

While it’s important to tell and remind our youth God’s plan for their lives, it’s even more important that we teach, train and disciple them on how they are to engage in the process of living and actualizing God’s plan for their lives.

We also need to remember that God’s plan for all of our lives, including our youth, is to win souls to Jesus. This is God’s ultimate plan for our lives. This is what being a disciple and making disciples is all about.

The danger in youth ministry is to talk about sex, dating, relationships and all the other hot topics that might stir interest in our youth but fail to make disciples.

We need to keep in mind that ALL of our programming, ALL of our events, ALL of our tools and resources will need to lead in equipping and mobilizing an army of youth that will testify, share and win souls to Jesus.

We’re missing the point of youth ministry — when we’re busy planning and executing multiple pizza parties, bowling night, gym nights, trips to amusement parks, lock-ins — and yet forget to make disciples.

Last but not least, we need to always be on the hunt, quest and search for the best methods to win souls to Jesus, for our youth. And this is not necessarily what has always been done or what has always worked. It has to be the very best method here and now for this generation.

What does this imply?

We need to prayerfully, diligently and efficiently search for and create creative methods in which our youth can utilize to win their friends to Jesus.

And creativity and innovation will always be a natural by-product of a vibrant relationship with our Creator. As someone once said, one God-idea always trumps a thousand man-ideas.