Monthly column for youth leaders

Time and again I see situations in churches, which seem perfectly reasonable, but they are hiding dangerous sickness below the surface.

So I'm donning white coat and stethoscope to reveal those infections you never knew you had. But it is a risky, painful business. These diseases are highly contagious. Is there a doctor in the house?

Disease #1 - 'Baby-sitter's decay'

Perhaps Christianity is like chicken pox, you catch it by just hanging around people who have it. Wrong! Whilst the lives of Christians should attract others, non-Christians are blind to their sin and need teaching about it. A youth club that solely provides a Christian environment assuming that the members will absorb faith is flawed. It may be a friendlier and 'safer' environment but it is a disease that will drain your church's precious resources. The cure is radical surgery. Cut out the 'baby-sitting' and implant something that is gospel centred. Even if this is bad news for Christian parents who are very comfortable with their weekly night off.

Disease #2 - 'Epilogue syndrome'

Tell any farmer that his job is easy, you just put the seeds in the ground and let nature do the rest, and you'd better be quick on your feet. But as youth workers we are guilty of just leaving the 'seeds'. How often do you hear 'we are just sowing seeds, you never know how it may be used in the future'.

Now, of course, God, in his providence and wisdom, can use our poor, rushed efforts. But if your Bible teaching programme at youth club amounts to a spiritual hit-and-run, think again. This is epilogue syndrome, another deadly disease. The cure is to accommodate some decent, structured Bible teaching in the programme. Make time for questions and answers. Train your leaders to engage the young people personally. I'm sorry that this might mean more preparation and fewer games.

Disease #3 - 'Full-timer-itis'

The symptoms of this epidemic will be hearing such phrases as 'a youth worker will solve all our problems' at PCC or deacons' meetings. The diagnosis of full-timer-itis is either that the church has an impossible and misconstrued aim for their youth worker (like filling the back three rows with local young people by Christmas). Or the church is ready to sit back and put its collective feet up as the super-duper youth worker does everything. The cure is not easy - be ready for hard work, that's what the gospel calls for. A new youth worker will bring more for the church to do, not less. One other side-effect may be apparent. Since we know that the gospel tends to offend you may find that gospel-centred youth work will reduce the size of the youth group before it starts growing.

Disease #4 - 'Parental relapse'

This disease is common in church parents occurring as the previous epidemic sweeps the church. A full time youth worker does not replace parents in the biblical role of raising our children and teenagers in a godly and scriptural manner. Tackle this disease with hard work too and don't stop your youth worker doing other important things.

Disease #5 - 'Buzzword disorder'

A form of 'Tourette's' syndrome in which the symptom is an uncontrollable use of trendy catch-phrases (such as 'empowerment' and 'community'). The physical manifestation is a programme brimming with management techniques and style. Amnesia about our gospel purpose soon follows. Discipleship begins to rely on process not relationships. Evangelism becomes all about attractive style and not solid content. 'Peer-led' (there's another!) discussion groups replace sound Bible teaching from an older, wiser Christian. Belonging and believing begin to get mixed up. The cure is not to provide a 'community' that young people feel comfortable belonging to, but to present the gospel to encourage repentance and belief.

Disease #6 - Undervaluation sickness

Has your church contracted this virus? Does it undervalue the youth leaders, both full time and volunteer? Too many churches do not see youth ministry as valid gospel work. Too many churches do not number 'Youth Guy' amongst the Bible teaching/pastoring roles within the church. Too many churches pay lip service to the youth worker, but are talking with the purse strings firmly shut. The cure, as with all viruses, is eradication. Tell your youth leaders what a great job they are doing. Offer them some support.

Disease #7 - 'Old age'

They say you can't beat this one, but don't catch the associated church version. The tell-tale signs are twitchiness when the youth worker stops looking like a young person. But youth leaders do not have a shelf life. Like a good wine they get better as they age. An older and wiser leader has advantages over one too close to the young people's own age.

'I'm glad you came to see me, I think we've caught your condition just in time. Come back and see me in a month. Next patient please!'

Seven diseases your church may have