The Monster Of Christian Rock

Even though I have posted about the demise of the Christian music industry before, I never imagined that I would be an eyewitness. Then I went to Winter Jam 2009.

Our youth group went together. I went to show my support for the kids and be supportive and to generally support their activities. Earlier in the week I attended a play that one of our youth was in. A nice, quiet, play. Winter Jam was jammed with about 20,000 kids from all over Kentucky. They really love their Christian music, I guess. I wasn't too excited about the evening's lineup, but I went to support the kids.

The show started with a group of 3rd graders called "Pure NRG", awesomely enough. They pretty much danced around stage with a soundtrack playing in the background. They could've been singing, but I couldn't be sure. They sounded too good for elementary school kids. I was pretty disgusted with this Disney-esque display of talent and then realized that these kids are getting pulled out of school and touring the country to do this. Made me even sicker.

Then this Italian woman came out and sang for us. She was very talented and displayed her great vocal abilities at different times, but her music was uninspiring. I've heard these songs before from other female christian artists. There was nothing unique about her or her music. When she did give the audience a glimpse of her real talent, everyone cheered and squealed like they do on American Idol. I started counting down the minutes until the speaker got up.

But not yet. There was more music to be had. The group NewSong was on stage. These guys have been around for a long time. They just sing. That's it. They started off with some standard church hymns that people here in Kentucky would know, and then they sang some of their signature tunes. One of them had a line that said, "This world has nothing for me". They kept repeating this over and over and over. And then they had us sing it back to them. I felt like I was in Jonestown waiting for the kool aid to be served. I can understand the intent of the message, but the idea that we as Christians have nothing to do with the world, is well, unbiblical. Then they ended the show by making fun of one of their bandmembers from California and sang "Sweet Home Alabama". Awesome.

Finally, I could get a rest from the crappy music when the speaker took the stage. Or so I thought. He replaced crappy music with crappy theology. But before the theology, this middle-aged white guy took a stab at being funny and cool by using phrases, words and gestures that most teens would use these days. He was the typical "Middle Aged Youth Pastor Trying To Get the Attention of the Kids Around Him". It was embarrassing to watch, even when people were laughing at his jokes.

And then, like most speakers, politicians and salesmen who manipulate our emotions, he turned on the audience and talked about death. Specifically, the horrible death that awaits you on your drive home from Rupp Arena. He told stories of teens that died after this and similar events and urged all of us not to make the same mistake they made: "don't leave this room until you know you're going to heaven. This is your last chance".

This was the entirety of the message. No mention was made of what to do with your life in the event that you actually survived the drive home. He was only interested in getting you to heaven, not in helping these kids become solid, dedicated Christ-followers for life.

After this embarrassment, I left to go do something else (I walked around a bit and then called my sister). I missed most of the Jonas Brothers look-alike Disnefied "punk" band (thank God), and then left again to stand in line to eat something. I toyed with the idea of ordering a beer to see what they would do, but I balked. Then "Some Nameless Guy That Sounded Like Every Other Solo Singer You've Ever Heard" sold us his wares and left the stage after a few songs. Apparently one of his songs made it on "Grey's Anatomy". It only made me loathe him all the more. I hate that show.

And then it was time for Toby Mac. I had never seen him perform, so I was anticipating being entertained and enlightened and uplifted above all the mediocrity that had come before. Sadly, He did none of those things. Much like sports teams from the city of Cleveland, he disappointed me greatly. Sure, there was energy. Sure, there was music. But yet again, there was no creativity. He and his "crew" suffer from the same malady as do most Christian bands: they don't produce anything that deserves our attention. It's the same music and the same message that the industry has been pedalling for 15 years, and it's pretty old. But, we're buying it.

All in all, it was pretty crap-tacular. The kids had a great time, and that's important, but I couldn't help but feel sorry for them. They were short changed by these people. They were given a message that probably scared them rather than inspired them. And sadly, this music will go on forever and ever. Toby Mac has been around for 20 years. His audience has not grown with him. He has always attracted teens and continues to do so. I don't know of any adult who follows his career or listens to his music. Probably because its the same stuff he put out when they were kids. I could tell that all of these artists were talented, but they were "handcuffed" by the music that is selling right now.

The Future Of Youth Ministry

So tonight in my youth ministry class we talked about the four stages of youth ministry dating back to the 1820's. Pretty much, we're in the "Emerging" stage that started around 1990, after the collapse of communism and modernism. Where youth ministry (and church ministry) used to be from the top - down, more and more youth groups are going from a bottom - up model. What's that? Good question.

It's pretty much where the youth pastor stops becoming the expert, the do-it-all, know-it-all minister. Most churches are still in this mode, and expect us to have all the answers. He or she instead trains people in the church to be leaders of youth. So, instead of the youth pastor leading a group of 30 kids and 5 adult leaders, they train the 5 adults and some student leaders to lead it, and do some of the work more effectively. It also becomes a ministry to the adult leaders. I really do believe (and know) that working with youth can be a ministry to the adults.

Another move is to the inner city. Back in the 70's and 80's, most youth ministry was done in the suburbs and small towns, but a majority of the kids were in the cities. Now, more and more adults are going back into the city to minister to those kids. Now its the suburban kids who will be left without leaders. It's funny, because that's exactly what happened here in Lexington with Youth for Christ. While the Urban ministry is thriving, the suburban ministry doesn't even exist anymore. I guess some of these trends are really happening after all.

It's pretty different from where I was 20 years ago as a kid, but I can see the logic behind it. Kids are very different. They want different things than we did just a few decades ago. Anyone who works with youth has their work cut out for them. It's not good enough just to give kids activities; they actually want to be challenged.

As far as my role in all this, I just don't know. I'm trying to learn to be happy where I am at the church I'm in with the youth in front of me. Hopefully, they won't abuse my car like kids in the past have done. I really like this car...

Milestones In Youth Ministry, Part 3

Tortured, tortured youth, when will you cease tormenting me? These are words I have often said to myself throughout my journey with youth these past 10 years. Even though I have had many wonderful encounters/conversations/dialogues/moments with youth, I have also had my share of tortured moments that I have previously discussed in this blog.

To date:

• I myself have been beaten, egged, doused, thrown in multiple pools, shaving creamed, silly stringed, air horned, laser tagged, paint balled, pellet gunned, frisbeed, jumped, and just plain attacked.
• My apartment has been toilet papered, snow balled, and rearranged while I was out. I actually liked it better after they changed things up.
• My car (my poor car) has been toilet papered, tampon-ed, shaving creamed, painted, hijacked, moved, saran wrapped, diapered, construction barrelled, and just plain abused from inside and out. It was also utilized for a long jump competition.

And this is all from kids I actually liked.

Just last week I was ambushed at someones house with shaving cream, an air horn and silly string. But don't worry, the offenders were beaten severely with approval from their parents. The kids were more surprised than I was. You would think by this time that they learned their lesson. But for those involved with youth ministry, we all know that they never do. They just keep coming back for more and more, and more...I'm getting a little too old for this.

I'm In A Movie (Sort Of)

I was paid the highest compliment last week when I found out that two of the youth in Campus Life added me in a movie they made. Actually, I'm not "in" the movie, but I am the target of an assassination. You'll also notice that I have an Italian accent in this flick. Luca (who also filmed the movie) is an exchange student from Italy. Eric has been a long time Campus Lifer and apparently has a secret, hidden desire to kill me. It's quite the honor to be the subject of random killing and violence in the everyday lives of teenagers. This is exactly the kind of impact I was hoping for when I signed up to be a youth volunteer.

Pleasantly Surprised, volume 2

For those of you who don't know, I have been volunteering with Youth for Christ here in Lexington for...geez...almost 8 years now. Seems a lot longer. Anywho, this year is a very unique one in that I am the only adult leader of the group. Admittedly, we've taken some hits over the last few years and are left with very few students, but still, I'm it. The other leaders have either moved or decided not to join us.

Over the summer I had been talking with the remaining youth about our dire situation and was left with the feeling that I might be wrapping this puppy up and putting it to bed. And I was OK with that. So, last week I addressed the situation again only to find that the remaining students were more than happy to keep this going AND help it to grow. I was surprised and amused at their youthful enthusiasm and was interested to see where this was going.

Last night was our first "club" of the year and I was pleasantly surprised that 11 students showed up, almost double what we started with last week. Some of the kids took it upon themselves to invite their friends and pass out flyers that they had produced at home.

It was also a unique club because the house we meet in flooded earlier in the day and we had to meet outside on the back porch around the fire pit. This made for the perfect atmosphere on a picture-perfect fall night in KY. It also helped to enable the pyromaniacs in our group to start and yes, cause some fires. I had to hide the lighter fluid on two separate occasions.

I would love to take credit for all this, but 1). I'm not a great motivator; and 2). I'm horrible at motivating people. It's great to see them take the initiative and assume the leadership that is rightfully theirs. I did tell them that I would need their help, but I honestly wasn't expecting all that they have done.

I don't know if the numbers will hold up next week, but it was great to see the benefits of a student led youth ministry at least for one week. Let's hope this grows through the year.

Youth Ministry Milestones

This fall marks my 10th year of youth ministry. I've been a volunteer at my church back in Kent, Ohio and with Youth for Christ here in Lexington, Kentucky. I will also be helping to re-launch the youth ministry at Apostles Anglican Church this fall.

During this time, I've seen my share of youth "bone-headedness" that an adult would expect to see. I've either seen or heard of kids peeing on buses (on the outside), stealing magnets off of cars, stealing and then returning floodlights from front lawns, kids getting pulled over for peeling out in full view of a patrol car, my own car being lovingly vandalized over and over again, and kids puking in walmart bags and handing them to me to dispose of.

The list could continue, but I halt at naming any more because none can compare to what transpired this past weekend. I now have a kid who has actually branded the word "yo" on someone's butt. Yes, branded. With a hot poker from the fireplace. The anonymous individual did say that he/she was prompted by the recipient of the brand to do so and did give them a bath towel to put in their mouth to drown out the screaming, and to keep all their teeth in place.

And yes, he/she did get in trouble due to the fact that: 1. They took pictures, of course; and 2. The parents found the pictures due to the fact he/she forgot to delete said pictures, of course. In this technologically savvy age we live in, it seems that we aren't as savvy while using these cool new devises, or at least we're not destroying the evidence like we should.

This is a new one for me. I didn't quite know how to react at first. I did congratulate him/her on their accomplishment. It took a lot of creativity to pull this off. Is this a setback? Far from it. I think there are far worse things these kids could be doing while they're bored over the summer. I will, however, be working with this child on their decision-making abilities this year.