Family Equipping Ministry- A Growing Movement….

[Steve Wright]

On a weekly basis, I am hearing a very clear message from leading student ministry authors, seminaries, and veteran youth pastors-today’s student ministry model is in need of major repairs. I have been a student pastor for more than 20 years; the last 10 years have been spent at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. reThink is the culmination of my journey (so far) as a student pastor.

All of my research points clearly to the fact that evangelicals are losing this generation of young people. I do not believe the issue of students leaving their faith can be glossed over any longer within our homes, churches, or seminaries. Moreover, we cannot correct the problem with more creativity, a better business model, flashier curriculum, or more programs. The issues that we face must drive us to a greater understanding of God’s Word and a biblical framework for ministry.

Dr. Richard Ross, from Southwestern Seminary, has asserted that “This model (of student ministry) has
allowed us to maintain very strong participation for the sum total of two years of middle school, then we lose
the first group on their way to high school, the next group when they get their driver’s license, and the last
group in the spring of their senior year. The fact that most now sleep off hangovers on Sunday mornings in
the dorms suggests our model, though well intentioned, has generally been a failed experiment. Scripture,
research, and observation by seasoned youth leaders suggest it is time for a new model.”

Good News!

I am receiving e-mails, cards, and phone calls weekly from pastors nationwide who are very excited about
the movement taking place. Dr. Randy Stinson, Dean of the School of Leadership and Church Ministry at
Southern Seminary and the President of Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, recently stated
“This idea has created a genuine movement in the evangelical community to which parents are responding.”

This movement is defined by:

• Ministry that seeks to make Christ above all else beautiful and that declares an uncompromising Gospel to
those who do not know Christ (Galatians 1:6-9).

• Ministry that is measured by lasting disciples rather than attendance campaigns and focuses on the glory of
our matchless Savior (John 15:1-15).

• Ministry that truly partners with parents and seeks as a priority the task of resourcing, training, and involving
parents as the primary disciplers of their children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

• Ministry that prioritizes and champions equally the two institutions that are God-given: the Family and the
Church (Acts 2:42-47).

• Ministry that seeks men who are biblically qualified pastors rather than charming activity directors (1
Timothy 3:1-7).

• A ministry environment that is healthy for a student pastor and his family; an environment where pastors
will desire to stay long past today’s destructive low tenures (Matthew 10:10).

• Ministry that seeks to mentor students for adulthood, marriage, and family rather than seeking to develop
lifelong youth group attendees (1 Corinthians 13:11).

• Ministry that invites, expects and teaches the biblical responsibility of older generations to invest in those
younger in the faith (2 Timothy 2:2).

More to come…..