David Wells writes in Losing Our Virtue: Why the Church Must Recover Its Moral Vision:
Can churches really hide their identity without losing their religious character? Can the Church view people as consumers without inevitably forgetting that they are sinners? Can the Church promote the Gospel as a product and not forget that those who buy it must repent? Can the Church market itself and not forget that it does not belong to itself but to Christ? Can the Church pursue success in the marketplace and not lose its biblical faithfulness?
Quoted in reThink
Those of us who love teenagers and sense a clear call from God to serve in this critical area of life have heard the horror stories of the ineffectiveness of today’s youth ministries. Some of the criticism is justified and some is not. In spite of the many wonderful youth ministries spanning our country/world, most research reveals that at least 50% of active evangelical teenagers leave church between 18-21 and few of those ever return. It is apparent that some adjusting and retooling of today’s approaches to youth ministry are in order.
reThink challenges those who are called to youth ministry to rethink not just practical youth ministry but the philosophy that drives why and how we do youth ministry. Having served in full time youth ministry for over 30 years and teaching youth ministry courses at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary since Fall of 2004, I have read a multitude of wonderful books on the subject. With all honesty and sincerity, reThink is the most valuable book on youth ministry that I have read up to this point in my career.
I have known Steve Wright as a personal friend for many years and have observed him in nearly every aspect of ministry. He writes as he lives. The philosophy and concepts discussed are what he has put into practice in his ministry and not mere ideas that have been tossed about in late night discussions. With every aspect of culture, media, and the educational system pulling at today’s youth a critical book is needed for these critical times. reThink is that book.