Newsweek asks if we are raising these in this article, "Girls Gone Bad
Paris, Britney, Lindsay & Nicole: They seem to be everywhere and they may not be wearing underwear. Tweens adore them and teens envy them. But are we raising a generation of 'prosti-tots'?"
Great question.
Quote that captured me, "Twelve- to 14-year-olds are probably the most vulnerable to stars' influence." Yep!
If Newsweek is admitting it, why do so many churches who start student ministries, or have student ministries in existence, make middle school ministry the part-time or volunteer led ministry? I am blessed to work with Matt, who is doing a GREAT job of leading our middle school ministry. He's part-time. He needs to be full-time. One of the things our leadership is wrestling with is how can they pay a full-time salary to a guy who oversees four grades (9-12)and then pay a full-time salary to a guy who oversees two grades (7-8)? My answer - it isn't number of grades, it's scope of ministry and the simple fact that they are the most vulnerable to influence! We have two full-time middle school pastors in our area.
Monday, February 05, 2007
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2 comments:
You've spoken a true and justifiable answer to "why a full-time junior high person in your ministry?"!!! Maybe people will start listening to you now on this argument! It makes SO much sense - these kids are wide open to influence and this article speaks loudly to the importance of people like Matt & his volunteers in these junior high students' lives.
Thanks!
Amen and Amen! I wonder if we will be asking, "Why did we not do this back when they were middle-schoolers?" in 15 or 20 years as they come back to church broken and beaten up. . . I have seen the good and bad of the investment of 15 years ago in youth ministry. We need to make this a priority!
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