The Reformation of Youth Ministry

Nehemiah 2:17-20 says, “Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”

Jerusalem had been destroyed. The walls of the city had been torn down, leaving its inhabitants vulnerable to foreign invasion and susceptible to enemy attacks. When Nehemiah heard about the condition of Jerusalem and how the wall was broken down and lying in waste, it moved him deep within his soul. It moved him to brokenness, humility, and desperation for a move of God to help him see the walls of Jerusalem rebuilt. God can move where there is someone who is desperate. Here in our text, Nehemiah had been given permission by the king to build the walls of Jerusalem, and he is out evaluating their condition. Restoration and reformation will begin in Jerusalem as Nehemiah and these men take strides to see the wall rebuilt.

Today, devastation of false doctrine and error has entered the body of Christ and has left the church in ruins and defenseless against the powers of darkness. Part of the wall that has been destroyed and left in ruins is youth ministry. But a reformation is taking place in the body of Christ as the Message of the Cross goes forth under the anointed preaching of the Word of God. I believe that under the leadership of Pastor Gabe and the rest of our pastoral team, Crossfire is spearheading a reformation regarding youth ministry.

On a large scale, youth ministry today can be summed up as entertainment. Youth ministries are putting on rap shows, rock shows, and other forms of entertainment because they have absolutely no idea what else to do to attract and retain young people. This new form of youth ministry dominates the body of Christ and is offering our youth inventions of the flesh to defend themselves against sin, the world, and the powers of darkness.

Young people are coming to church every time the doors are open, and the majority of them are not even saved. If they are saved, then they certainly have not received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, never been a part of a corporate prayer meeting, and have never seen or been used in the gifts of the Spirit. Honestly, they don’t know anything about God because their youth pastors have a shallow comprehension of God and His redemption plan. Some might say that’s a little too strong to say. But I don’t think it’s strong enough.

I believe God has dealt with my heart about Him reforming youth ministry through Crossfire Youth Ministries. As we continue to send this network out, other youth pastors are going to be encouraged to go back to the Bible. I believe that we are going to hear reports of young people who have been part of youth ministries for years getting saved, getting baptized with the Holy Spirit, and being used to bring revival to their schools. There is a reformation coming to youth ministry—and following reformation is always revival. God is not done, yet!

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Parisragan1

Paris, accompanied by his wife Marybeth, coordinates and oversees <a href="https://gabrielswaggart.org/crossfire/unite">Crossfire Unite</a> fellowship groups. He is a regular teacher on SBN’s “<a href="https://gabrielswaggart.org/crossfire/gotc">Generation of the Cross</a>” with Gabriel Swaggart. Paris is a workshop instructor and assists with Church Needs for the <a href="https://gabrielswaggart.org/iyc">International Youth Conference</a>, and he has been an evening professor at <a href="https://jsbc.edu" target="_blank">Jimmy Swaggart Bible College</a> since the spring of 2017. He oversees all Crossfire Unite Student Outreaches. Paris also contributes writings to the <a href="https://gabrielswaggart.org/crossfire/blog?author=paris%20ragan">Crossfire Blog</a>.

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