Time magazine reports this week that there is a trend afoot among modern American youth ministries to move away from entertainment and towards substance. Writer Sonja Steptoe explains how things have changed in recent years:

Youth ministers have been on a long and frustrating quest of their own over the past two decades or so. Believing that a message wrapped in pop-culture packaging was the way to attract teens to their flocks, pastors watered down the religious content and boosted the entertainment. But in recent years churches have begun offering their young people a style of religious instruction grounded in Bible study and teachings about the doctrines of their denomination. Their conversion has been sparked by the recognition that sugarcoated Christianity, popular in the 1980s and early ’90s, has caused growing numbers of kids to turn away not just from attending youth-fellowship activities but also from practicing their faith at all.

I thank God that Lou got us on track with Bible-rich, gospel-saturated, parent-driven, church-based youth ministry. Lou would be quick to tell you that most of what he implemented he picked up from our friends at Covenant Life Church, (which got a favorable nod in the Time article, you should know).

It’s the presence of God’s Word and the gospel that have kept us from sugar-coating our youth ministry. My hope and commitment is to lead five15 in a way that my parting words on your graduation day to be these:

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15-16

That’s the meat of the Word and the gospel, peoples. Let’s eat.

PS - check out Al Mohler’s perspective on the Time article, and his kind words about CLC.

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