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Mend the Gap - Jason Gardner 

It was early on in my role as the youth project researcher at LICC that I had a conversation that had a deep impact on my subsequent work. I was talking to a youth worker whilst on retreat and as we discussed the state of youth ministry in the church he said, 'I'd love to do a survey of how many adults pull out of supporting church youth work as soon as a full time youth worker is appointed.'

Now I didn't plough my energies into conducting that survey, I had a strong instinct that I didn't need to and since that date anecdotal evidence has only backed up his sentiment. And although that was several years ago only several weeks ago I heard exactly the same critique from a couple of newly appointed youth workers who'd arrived at churches only to find those that had been fully involved in the youth work easing back off the pedal. 

There are many reasons as to why this happens. If there's only ever been a small core of youth volunteers working in a church then when opportunity presents itself it's understandable if they take a much needed and much deserved rest. Also, to an extent, they may feel undermined, 'someone much better equipped has arrived to do the role so I'm not needed.' This could certainly be the case if they haven't felt resourced or equipped for the role in the first place - if they were meeting a need rather than fulfilling a 'calling'.

But should this be the case? Just who is called to 'youth work'? I was on a retreat recently where they made a helpful distinction between 'role' and 'calling'. We have many roles in life, roles that we're not 'called' to do but which we have to undertake to the best of our ability, roles as parents, brothers, sisters, friends.

There may be unique tasks that we're called to - our particular line of work or gifting but there are roles that we find ourselves in that we simply need to seek God's help in doing. In the Christian community we do not need to wait for the call to 'do youth work' as we all have the role and responsibility of discipling the young. (see Deut 6.6-9 - the imperative that follows the 'golden' law of Judaism and Christianity).

Now there are numerous reasons as to why we may feel not up to the task and, yes this is a plug for the book, but can we begin to see our youth workers as team builders and facilitators to help us fulfil this role? Can we recognise that in a society that drives wedges between young and old, acknowledging our joint responsibility to disciple the young allows us to start from a place of a unity and strength?

It was my aim in Mend the Gap to help Churches begin the vital task of reassessing their approach to young people in order to create the foundations of an all age discipling community. The book begins by outlining the causes of the rift between the generations before moving on to addressing the successes and shortcomings of the church in its attempts to reach young people.

Finally I provide practical pointers as to how the Church can move forward and ultimately how it can help empower young people to realise their role in helping establishing God's kingdom rule on earth.

For more details on Mend the Gap and to purchase a copy click here

Jason Gardner is youth project researcher at The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. He is currently seeking to tie in trends in secular youth culture with how the Church approaches the issue of reaching out to today's generation. Prior to his position at LICC, Jason completed degrees in English and Theology and has worked alongside young people in and outside the church.