Are we doing young people a service or disservice? And does local church youth ministry work?

Abstract

This paper asks some pertinent questions about the purpose of Christian youth work and ministry and the role of the Christian youth worker in the context of declining participation by 18–30s in church activities. It also examines issues of adolescent rites of passage, behaviour management and social control, and considers what some of the implications might be for the mission and discipleship of young people.