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I am the student minister at a church in Saint Charles. I lead the team and work primarily with High school department. I love to teach and simply being with students. I hope you enjoy the thoughts that I have expressed and I look forward to hearing your opions.

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Students vs. Teens

May 7th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

I was reading on marko’s blog this morning about the junior high summit and was very interested in a lot of what was being shared. Christian Smith was answering questions about his research on the role of parents in the faith formation of students/teens. At the end of what marko shared with us you would read the following:

  • “If you could change one thing about youth ministry, what would it be?
    CS: If I could Change one thing about youth ministers is I would have YM stop calling teens “students”, because that relates teens to what they know about school. In Youth Group they should be seen as whole people who have a life outside of academic success. To call them students narrows them down to their scholastic identity. Church should be an institution that sees them as all that they are. There are a lot of kids that have dropped out of school and therefore lost there identity in Church as well! Our Public language should be Teens or Youth. If someone’s job is to legitimately work with youth in school then they are student ministers, outside of that, why would they be titled that? I don’t care what they want to be called, they shouldn’t be called students, it is collaborating with the motto of don’t fail, and they don’t need that from the church.”

What are your thoughts on this? I am not sure how I feel or what I agree with and am just searching out an overall thought and direction from others?

There Are 4 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Justin Fluhr on 21 May 2008:

    I agree with the principle but I’m not sure that it works in practice. As a teenager growing I was much more comfortable with the term student than teen. Teen carried too many negative ideas. I always heard adult talk poorly about “teenagers” and I avoided the term. It also made me feel like a little kid even though I was a teenager.

    Youth may be a better term but it struggles to roll off the tongue. It’s definitely something to think about.

  2. Comment by David Mehrle on 22 May 2008:

    Justin,

    I agree with you. Too often when we use the term teens it does carry a negative tone. Good thought!

  3. Comment by Ron Walsworth on 30 May 2008:

    I am now using the term teen ministry for two years now. I was motivated by another teen Pastor who had also done the same. I realized that the term students and youth did not do a good job of classifying what teen ministry is all about. However, what it really comes down to is not how we name or market our group of young people. If we are offering genuine unconditional acceptance and relationships to students and non-students, they will not be deterred by what name is on the wall at service.

  4. Comment by David Mehrle on 30 May 2008:

    Good stuff! In what ways have you felt the difference between students and teens. I am very interested in what changes have occurred with your group and how you feel they have responded differently. Would love to hear more about your perspective.

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