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When I heard that Ron Hutchcraft (30-year youth ministry veteran and host of "Alive!," an impressive Christian radio show for teenagers) had written a new book on youth ministry, I was eager to get my hands on a copy. I was not surprised to find in The Battle for a Generation a genuine love for kids and the voice of one who has obviously been "around the block" with them. From the first chapter, it is clear that Ron has an evangelist's heart, with a single-minded passion for seeing kids come to know Christ. The personal stories and real-life illustrations sprinkled throughout the book give it a warm and casual feel. At times, it felt like I was having a series of brain-picking lunches with a youth ministry master.
The Battle for a Generation is built on the foundational principle that teenagers today are in a life-and-death battle zone. Ron paints a stark picture of the challenges facing teenagers at the turn of the millenium. But just as clearly, he points beyond the overwhelming challenge to the power of Christ to rescue kids. The book has a hopeful we-can-do-this feel. Ron makes a compelling case that the harvest -- particularly this harvest -- is ready. "If this generation is lost," he says, "it will be because we didn't show up. We won't lose by fighting. We will lose by forfeit."
Undoubtedly, this book did rekindle in me a passion for reaching kids who don't know Christ, but it also left me wondering about a few things. If I were having that lunch with Ron, I would ask a few questions:
2. I love the image of youth ministry as a lifeboat. But at what point do we bring kids to the shore where they can LIVE?
3. Is there data to back up your claim that today's youth are "loster than kids have ever been in our part of the world," or "the most unreached generation in the history of North America"?
4. What about the family? The data that I'm seeing indicates that the family and the extended Christian family of adults in the church has the most long-range impact in a young person's faith formation. I wonder (excuse me, I'm chewing) why you chose not to include these two powerful weapons in your discipleship arsenal.
5. Is it wrong for a church to expect its paid youth minister to give his or her primary attention to the youth in the church? Is that what you are suggesting when you say, "Many influences will pull you back toward comfort, safety, and just taking care of the little flock. Most folks at church will be happy if you do that," or did I miss something (like dessert)?
Ron places a bold challenge before us: "It is war. A battle rages for a generation of young people -- and the winner owns the future." May God raise up a generation of young people and leaders who will heed this battle cry.
Mark DeVries is general editor of The Teen Waits Bible and a youth minister in Nashville, TN.
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