Survey: Is ‘Youth Group’ Even Biblical?
Scott Brown, director of the National Center for Family-Integrated Churches, questions whether modern-day youth ministry is remotely Biblical.
That’s why he commissioned a 5-week, 3-question survey at www.YouthGroupSurvey.com which will be seen 4 million times across America’s top 14 Christian websites and directly sent to 290,000 email subscribers.
The web banner headline and email subject line: “Is ‘Youth Group’ Even Biblical?” The survey concludes by Tuesday, October 8th.
1. Are church “youth group” programs a biblical way to reach young people?
__ Yes
__ No
__ It’s complicated
2. Does modern youth ministry concern you?
__ Yes, we’re losing our kids and it’s clearly not working to train mature believers.
__ Yes, it is too shallow and entertainment focused.
__ Yes, because both A & B
__ No, it’s not perfect, but it’s striving to relevantly communicate the gospel.
3. Does the Bible give clear direction and boundaries for discipling youth in the church?
__ No. The Bible gives us the gospel, but how to reach youth with it is up to us to figure out in each generation.
__ Yes, but there is a lot of flexibility since the Bible doesn’t say much about specific methods.
__ Yes, the Bible gives us all the direction we need to disciple youth and constrains us from using worldly innovations.
The survey will be promoted on ChristianPost.com, WorldMag.com, BibleStudyTools.com, ChristianRadio.com, Christianity.com, Crosscards.com, Crosswalk.com, Godtube.com, GodVine, iBelieve.com, Jesus.org, OnePlace.com, LightSource.com, and ReligionToday.com.
Every survey participant will receive Brown’s e-book entitled “Weed in the Church: How A Culture of Age Segregation is Destroying the Younger Generation, Fragmenting the Family and Harming Church” as well as access to the 50-minute-long documentary entitled Divided: Is Modern Youth Ministry Multiplying or Dividing the Church? (Divided has been viewed by 200,000 people.)
Check out the thank you downloads for the survey participants: ncfic.org/survey-thank-you-downloads
•”The issues are much more complicated than simply pulling kids out of youth ministry or shutting down your church youth ministry. I think youth ministry needs to change, but I think youth ministry needs to stick around,” said Mark Oestreicher of The Youth Cartel in reaction to Divided.
•Scott Brown traces “youth ministry’s lineage to paganism, evolutionary theory, and men who were rebellious against God,” said Walt Mueller of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding who also takes issue with Brown.
•”As I have watched what has happened in most of our churches, I have become convinced that Scott Brown is far more right than wrong on this matter. Our families simply must have some time when they worship and study together,” said Dr. Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
To schedule an interview with the provocative Scott Brown in order for your listeners, readers or viewers to be a part of the 3-question survey on youth groups before Tuesday, October 8th, call Adam McManus at 210.373.7499 or email: [email protected].
(Source: Christian Newswire)
