YOUTH MINISTRY 3.0 HB: A Manifesto of Where We've Been, Where We Are and Where We Need to Go (Youth Specialties) [Hardcover]

I just got done reading, "Youth Ministry 3.0: A Manifesto of Where We've Been, Where We Are & Where We Need to Go" by Mark Oestreicher. The first thing I noticed was that the writing is in a huge font and there is a lot of filler on the sides from various people involved in youth ministry so the book can be read in like 2 hours, easy. Just an observation. Also it is refreshing to read a book that you already by and large agree with (which I do for the most part).

The main premise of his book is this: "The reality [of the effectiveness of youth ministry] that's playing out is somewhat different than what we imagined, hoped, or expected." (pg. 24). He is basically stating in his book: youth ministry as we know it or have known it is generally not "working". Agreed. Even as a rookie I can see this and have seen this since I've been involved in youth ministry for the past 6 years.

The Breakdown:

For starters, Oestreicher cites the all too often over cited and known facts about adolescence and adolescent development, etc. that have already been beat to death by Chap Clark, et al. But it is still good to hear as a refresher. Moving on to frame his premise, Oestreicher gives a breakdown of the history of youth ministry:

YM 1.0: Proclamation Driven:
This is basically evangelism. Kids need to hear and receive the gospel message. This is what drove youth ministry from the early 1900's until about the 1970's. It was/is about identity. Basically adolescents are trying to figure out who they are; their identity. And he cites "evangelism" and "correction" as key marks of YM 1.0. Think Billy Graham, think preaching, think the message going out to kids, This is YM 1.0.

YM 2.0: Program Driven:
This is a reaction to YM 1.0. He defines this as "if we can build the right program with the coolest youth room and hip adult leaders and lots of great stuff to attract kids, then we'll be successful." (pg 59). Basically think structure, cool events, formal and rigid program nights with a band, a message, and fun games, etc; a program. How many kids are coming is more important than the actual kids themselves. Participation = success. There is also a huge emphasis on discipleship and "creating a positive peer group." This is YM 2.0 and he identifies this with the quest for autonomy in the life of adolescents.

YM 3.0: Not Driven, but Present:
He argues that we need to move from 2.0 into 3.0 but this will look different for each youth ministry. This is defined not by programs or events, but by being with the kids and doing life with them. It means communion (like community but deeper) and missional living. This happens in small groups of kids, not large programs where most kids don't even know each other. The focus is "to be present with the teenagers God has placed in our midst." (pg. 72). Spurgeon always said that when you focus on the empty seat you do a disservice to the filled seat next to it (paraphrase). God brings us kids to minister to. Lets minister to them and be in communion with them. Lets be missionaries to them not their best buddy or the "cool youth pastor." The focus of 3.0 is affinity. Teenagers are trying to find out where they belong. We need to facilitate that in a small, organic, communal, missional group where they can feel loved, welcomed and yet have purpose and be on a mission from Jesus where they are actually making a difference.

Oestreicher even advocates doing less, and being smaller, simpler. He writes, "Let me say it plainly: Large is part of the value system of Youth Ministry 2.0; small is a cornerstone to Youth Ministry 3.0. Communion necessitates small. Contextualization begs for small. Discernment requires small. Mission is lived out in small...not forced community, programming, and utility." (pg. 99). I went to a youth group sometimes in high school before I was saved that had 800 high schoolers and 400 junior highers! It was a purely social endeavor. It was nuts. I think that if the youth pastor doesn't know the name of every kid in the room, the group is too big.

With all of this said, I liked most of what he wrote in this book. I would have loved to see a lot more theology in it and bible citations (there are about 10 total ?) and I do think Oestreicher puts too much of an emphasis on "what we do" instead of letting God "do". Another breakdown of the book is that he somewhat advocates an "either/or" approach to youth ministry (regarding 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0) instead of a "both/and" approach. While moving into 3.0 there are elements of 1.0 (evangelism and correction, see Colossians 1:28) and 2.0 (discipleship, see...the bible) that must and should be present in any ministry. I hope that the move to 3.0 doesn't leave content (gospel, doctrine, etc.) in its wake.

Even with those objections stated, by and large I loved the book. I like where he is going with it and what he envisions. This year (before I read the book) I canceled high school "youth group" and now we meet at a home and eat, study the bible and hang out. It is more discussion based and more natural. More organic and zero program feel to it. I've always hated "programs." Programs are fake and forced. Now we just have two high school bible studies during the week, (one is an inductive study through 1 John, and one is a discussion based group where we're going through "Where Faith and Culture Meet" by Andy Crouch.). We still have junior high youth group because I think they need more concrete boundaries, and Sunday school is a hybrid of discussion and teaching for both.

So we have different groups to meet the desires of different kids. I like being present and not driven. I am glad Oestreicher wrote this book. Hopefully we can all eventually move into being the church, where success is measured by being faithful to God's call, instead of being activity directors where success is measure by "how many kids are in your group."

It's not a long read, but it will get you thinking about where youth ministry is going (and needs to go) in the years ahead. In fact, if you are assessing your youth ministry (something all churches should do and redo every so often) then this one is a must for your whole committee as you take a look at what teenagers need, how they respond to culture and society (and the church), and how God is calling us to meet those needs.

In the book, Mark Oestreicher writes about the processes that youth ministry has gone through in general over the decades (youth ministry 1.0 and youth ministry 2.0 - though this isn't a simple "history of youth ministry" book). When Mark gets to youth ministry 3.0 he explains that we youth workers need to be less focused (in fact, not focused at all, almost) on programs (small groups and discipleship) and not even on "forcing" or "manipulating" relationships but, rather, on being "with" our kids (present) - each in his or her own world experience. This presence is more in a sense of communion - not so much as the sacrament (though how he describes it is very sacramental) but more so as community around God and with creation. He moves from this into a missional focus, which I really connected with and think youth can, too. The missional focus is a somewhat "praxis" or "practical" outlook on YM 3.0. In fact, if a sequel to this book were to be written, that's the direction I'd see it going as youth and adults who work with youth would allow God to take them together into mission.

If you're looking for a "how to" at the back of the book, you won't find it. How could you? That would be programming. But with YM3.0 Marko introduces us to a topic we all should be in conversation over - how to reach and "be with" youth today who have a hard time trusting and "being with" us.

My review doesn't do the book justice, and I encourage you to go online and check out a few reviews (many are on Marko's blog site: ysmarko.com)

The religious community is a significant source of character formation for young people. Because volunteers often oversee youth groups, I am always looking out for good resources to help them use their time wisely and effectively with teens. Youth Ministry 3.0 by Mark Oestreicher is one such book. Marko (as the author is better known) has an extensive background working with youth ministry internationally and is qualified to assess its current condition.

Adolescence is the period between the dependence of childhood and the independence of adulthood. Psychologists tell us that adolescents are trying to accomplish three tasks during this time: form their identity, develop autonomy (independence), and experience affinity (belonging). In Marko's estimation, Youth Ministry 1.0 (1940s - 1960s) emphasized identity formation through preaching and Youth Ministry 2.0 (1970s - 1990s) emphasized independence through programs. He sees belonging (where and to whom do I belong) as the critical thrust of working with young people today.

This emphasis of Youth Ministry 3.0 is about localization, spending time together, and mission. Localization simply means that a youth group should express its own characteristics based on its community and young people. It does not have to model itself on big successful programs around the country (or even down the street). Spending time together is not just about providing a program each week, but giving meaning and connection to youth's lives throughout the week. Mission gives the group something to rally around and gives direction to everyone. (It is interesting that this approach emphasizes belonging but provides much aid to young people in accomplishing the other two tasks of adolescence as well.)

Youth Ministry 3.0 is intriguing reading that raises a lot of possibilities. I think it is especially suited to group discussion with youth leaders, volunteers, and even students in leadership.