The commitment level model of youth ministry places the focus of ministry on a specific age group. For example, all ministries aimed at teenagers are co-ordinated for maximum effectiveness. One of the weaknesses of such an approach is the lack of interaction that teenagers have with adults - apart from adult leaders who may be involved in ministry positions.
The role of the church in relating to different groups of people must include a dual emphasis
between: age-specific ministries (those that are targeted at a specific age-group) and
inter-generational ministries (those that seek to integrate different age-groups together). Both are needed within the local church. In fact, a family exists with this tension and solves it by having
different events or activities that are either geared at inclusivity or exclusivity. They complement
each other and lead to a healthy relationship.
1. Age-Specific Ministry
The strengths of age-specific ministries include: the needs of individuals in the different age-groups can be met, people can be helped with specific tasks to be accomplished at each stage, the difference in length of attention span at each age is dealt with, specific experiences and challenges are discussed in age-groups, more intimate relationship with leaders can take place because of smaller groups and people can gain insight and encouragement from their peers. There are, however, also a number of weaknesses in age-specific ministries: the potential to increase the generation gap and help people loose touch with each other, the possibility of a division within the church into narrowly defined age-groups, a lack of continuity between ministries with the result that people are lost in the transitions, a loss of mentors who are in a stage or two above the person, and the separation of families who need to worship and learn together.
2. Inter-Generational Ministry
The strengths of inter-generational ministries include: the creation of a sense of unity or familyness, the availability of role models, the learning of life skills from more experienced people, mutual learning and teaching between young and old, and the strengthening of the family. The weaknesses of inter-generational ministry include: the danger of reducing learning to the lowest age-group, not meeting specific needs, a loss of intimacy in open sharing, a loss of identity in the large group gathering, and the possible feeling of alienation for those who are not in a family.
The bible reveals a basis for inter-generational ministry in the way children were involved in all
aspects of Israel's corporate life: passover feast (Exodus 12:1-11), feast of pentecost
(Deuteronomy 16:6-12), feast of tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:9-12), renewal of the covenant (Joshua 8:35), times of crisis (2 Chronicles 20:13) and times of confession (Ezra 10:1). The following principles emerge from the Old Testament: the involvement of the family, children were to hear teaching so thy could learn, obey and fear the Lord, because children are part of the whole they should hear everything and children should be taught how to trust in God.
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