The Importance of Children’s and Youth Ministry
It makes sense, for a church passionate about mission, to value ministry to the age groups where we can see clear evidence of God working.
This throwback-Thursday-on-a-Tuesday article was originally published at Australian Church Record on 13th July, 2021.
It is no surprise to ACR readers that Australia is radically and rapidly changing as a nation. Whether or not it is accurate to describe the initial colonies or federated states as a “Christian” nation, it is abundantly clear that as we enter the third decade of the 21st Century, Australia is increasingly a post–Christian and post–church society.
In 2017 45% of Australians identified as Christian and 25% of Australians were described as ‘cold’ towards Christianity1. Only 15% stated that they attend church monthly or more.
As confessional Anglicans, we are not specifically concerned with Australia being a culturally Christian nation. However, we are passionate about Christ and his Kingdom. We are passionate about making disciples of all nations by evangelising the lost and discipling the saints. And it is for this reason that as a diocese it is essential that we prioritise children’s and youth ministry in our churches. Understanding the importance of these ministries will enable us to intentionally invest in young people for the good of our churches, and for the glory of Christ’s Kingdom.
1. Children’s and youth ministry is making disciples
NCLS results from Sydney Anglican Churches over the last 20 years have shown the consistency of child and youth conversion. The majority of Sydney Anglicans came to faith before the age of 20 and significant numbers before the age of 10.
As a church passionate about mission and the salvation of the lost it makes sense that we would value ministry to the age groups where we can see clear evidence of God working.
Understanding the beliefs of young people can help us see the need for this missional focus. According to one study, only 38% of Australian teenagers identify as Christian (6% as Anglican) and the majority (52%) have no religious identity.[5] However, in the same study, 50% of teenagers said that believed in karma, 29% in reincarnation and 20% in astrology. As the authors of the report stated, “while religious affiliation is no longer the norm for the majority of teens, they have not become abidingly secular (in a personal sense).” This data agrees with much of Rory Shiner’s article in this ACR Journal.
It is incorrect to think that young people in our post-Christian nation are disinterested in spirituality. Many are hungry to explore and experiment with spiritual concepts and practices. It is the opportunity of our churches to engage with young people and affirm that—like the Athenians in Acts 17—their spiritual wonderings and wanderings are a correct impulse, just misaligned. We have a wonderful opportunity to explore with, and expound to, them the known God “who made the world and everything in it [who] is the Lord of heaven and earth” (Acts 17:24).
By God’s good design, children’s and youth ministry is a field ripe for harvest. Therefore, it is not simply faithfulness to Christ’s gospel imperative (as if that isn’t sufficient justification!), but strategic wisdom that spurs us to intentionally invest in ministry to the next generation (Ps. 78:4; 145:4).
[Continue reading online at Australian Church Record. Also available in Autumn 2021 Journal]
McCrindle, Mark (2017) ‘Faith and Belief in Australia’. McCrindle Research. Being ‘cold’ was determined through identifying an attitude towards Christianity of either ‘I am passionately opposed to Christianity’, ‘I’ve got strong reservations about Christianity and I have no interest in it’ or ‘I have some issues with Christianity and it isn’t for me’.