I have to admit that at the moment I am contemplating a number of big issue questions about how to develop effective youth ministry around the world. One of these is about ‘How to equip youth leaders in the majority world so they can develop effective youth ministry.”

It seems that in many of the countries I visit that churches and denominations have no structured training for youth leaders. Youth leaders learn what they need to know from the person before them and the style and structure of youth ministry doesn’t change. And then this style is reinforced by the pastor and elders of the church because it is seen as acceptable and safe. Because church leaders don’t understand the youth culture around them and because they are scared of what might happen to their young people they keep a tight rein on things.

Youth work in many parts of Africa, for instance, revolves around choir and Bible study—where the pastor or leader talks for an hour and then asks if there is any questions—and so much of what happens is irrelevant for where young people are at and the issues they face.

But how you equip youth leaders to help them develop youth ministry into a relevant ministry. Is it by having outside experts come in and run training seminars, is it training by distance such as the internet, is it challenging church leaders about the need to provide training, is it approaching the Bible colleges about having youth ministry papers or courses, or is it setting up para-church organisations to come in outside the church and run training and programmes?

I have to admit that I struggle with this one. There are elements of each idea that could work. I am trying to work my way through this maze of possibilities and seeing what happens. What I do know is that young people need relevant programmes and connections into their world and unless youth leaders are equipped and encouraged to see what is possible in youth ministry, then young people will continue to drift away from church and non-Christian young people will not be drawn into a relationship with God—because the package that he comes in is too old and scary.

So I wonder what is working or not working where you are in the whole area. I would really like to know. Leave me a message.