Raising the Bar: Ministry to Youth in the New Millennium

Student Ministry Report

Alvin L. Reid (b. 1959) is the author of Raising the Bar: Ministry to Students in the New Millennium. He currently serves as Professor of Evangelism at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina; and has been on faculty there since 1995. Currently he holds the Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism of which he founded; and has recently become more focused with Youth ministry in his local church by being named Young Professionals Director at Richland Creek Community Church. Alvin holds the M.Div and the Ph.D with a major in evangelism from Southwestern Seminary, and the B.A. from Samford University. He has spoken at a variety of conferences in almost every state and continent, and in over 2000 churches, colleges, conferences and events across the United States and globally.
Reid has written extensively on evangelism, missional Christianity, spiritual awakening, and student ministry. Books include Evangelism Handbook: Biblical, Spiritual, Intentional, Missional (B & H, fall 2009); The Convergent Church: Missional Worship in an Emerging Culture (with Mark Liederbach, Kregel, January 2009); Join the Movement: God Is Calling You to Change the World; Raising the Bar: Ministry to Youth in the New Millennium; Radically Unchurched: Who They Are and How to Reach Them; as well as many other works in the genre. Alvin and his wife Michelle have two children: Joshua, who recently graduated from The College at Southeastern, and Hannah, who just graduated from Wake Forest Rolesville High School. The Reid family currently resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Content Summary

The book ?Raising the Bar: Ministry to Youth in the New Millennium? is regarded as an excellent source for current Youth ministers; as well as the parents of youth so involved in the Youth ministry program. The book states an often overlooked fact that teenagers know what it is like to be a teenager, because they are teenagers themselves. Demonstrative in the work is that the ministry to youth and their local congregation must teach these young people how to be adults. One such youth (Kristen) states categorically that ?we know how to be teenagers?we want to know now how to be adults.?
According to statistics, two-thirds of teenagers today are interested in having a meaningful relationship with God through Jesus Christ; yet the sad fact of this, is that less than one-third of them are active within any local congregation. ?The NAMB reports that 88 percent of churched youth drop out of church after high school.? One reason for this, is the theme of boredom which Reid presents in the premise that ?the current Youth ministry is [based on] too much fun and games; coupled with a lack of concern for the teens spiritual maturity.? It is for this (and other reasons), that Raising the Bar focuses not merely upon the youth of today; but the very means we as leadership will use to reach, teach, and keep them in their faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. States Reid, ?The Millennial generation bears a similarity, philosophically, to that which was faced by the body of believers in the New Testament.? This is an issue which will have bearing on the method by which Youth ministers reach, teach, and retain the current generation. If words can be believed, ?teens across America look to adults-family and spiritual leaders-for real guidance.? In-other-words, what students want, is not ?the latest game or icebreaker?it is real, honest, Biblical substance.?
What becomes evident in the content is that these are real issues which church leadership, especially the Youth minister must deal with. We as leadership ?criticize low academic standards in the public school system?yet our churches have those in membership who are guilty of perpetrating the same low standard.? The assertion throughout this book is a call for Youth ministers and church leadership to change the way in which the congregation does Youth ministry.
The author gives a plea which is woven throughout the text; and will resonate with the minister who recognizes that ?today?s teens are identified with teamwork; authenticity; as well as a ?can-do? attitude.? The plea is a simple one:
We as members of the church must evaluate how we view the youth of today. We must begin setting our standards higher by reinventing the fundamental ways in which we will minister to teens and their respective families in the future.

The scope of Reid?s plea is so compelling; many might think it a radical idea. It appears though that it has currency, given the endorsement by Joy Strock who is the current President of StudentLeadership.net. Strock writes:
[This book] is not for the faint of heart, or those who are intimidated by the culture. It is written for those who are deadly serious about reaching and keeping the Digital generation?an unreached people group, a ?tribe apart? within their own language, values, as well as customs and dress.
Evaluation: Raising the Bar

The objective of Raising the Bar is to demonstrate to the Youth minister, how to reach and retain unchurched youth, while holding on to those youth currently participating within any given youth ministry. From asking hard questions such as ?Does youth ministry pass the test of time?? to the practical aspect of reinventing the Youth ministry, this book appears to cover all of the bases. It attempts to leave no stone unturned with its aim of providing both ministers and parents the tools necessary to capture and hold their youth?s hearts for Christ; while engaging their passion for serving Him and others for the remainder of their lives.
Reid takes the time to establish the evidence of our current failed Youth ministry paradigm; closing his argument in order to secure a summary judgment. ?Do we see young people as children?or as young adults, ready to take on the challenges of a complex world they will so quickly face?? This book is a clear and well balanced look at what youth ministry is currently doing (and not doing), how youth truly are and what can be done to reach the "millennial" generation. It's very easy to be negative about whom youth are and the fact that there are so many problems in their culture. Reid doesn't merely give us the "glass is half full" positivism but he presents real, empirical evidence that gives renewed hope and greater motivation to get involved and teach our youth to become great adults!
Reid systematically arranges the facts of our current practices in ministering to youth. He points out that "Youth are under-challenged and treated as children" yet this generation has by the nature of their very existence been forced to live with the fact that "their lifetime has always included AIDS." Before reading this book, I had always assumed that today's youth are becoming increasingly more immature when compared with previous generations. The author takes the time to establish the evidence of our current failed youth ministry paradigm and then closes his argument in order to secure a summary judgment. "Do we see young people as children . . . or as young adults ready to take on the challenges of a complex world they will so quickly face?"
Today's generation of teens, the Millennial generation, is marked by teamwork, authenticity, and a "can-do" attitude. They are much more than kids finishing childhood?a perspective many in the church have and that drives what often happens in youth group?they are young adults with incredible potential who need to learn how to be Christian adults. ?This compelling book provides an impassioned plea for the church to set a higher standard; to reinvent the fundamental ways we have ministered to teens and their families.?
? Author is a recognized authority and sought-after speaker on youth ministry
? Views teens positively, but not naively
? Encourages and shows youth ministers and workers how to have a biblically successful ministry

? Written with passion and expert knowledge
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