“It takes a greenhouse to nurture the souls of young people—a greenhouse formed by adults who want to know God. A young person’s faith is best tended by a variety of relationships within a Christian community.” Mark Yaconelli

My mentor has said for decades that there are only two things necessary for youth ministry to take place

• adults passionately in love with Jesus
• who choose to authentically love students with intentionality and appropriate vulnerability(2).

Research by Search Institute demonstrates that every student needs 5 caring adults in their life. Adults who know them by name and love them unconditionally.

1. How do/should these truths change the face of “normal” youth ministry? 
2. What difference do/should they make in the choices we make with our time in our families?
3. How does/should this change our response to the teens within our sphere of influence?

Originally posted on Hal's blog, used with permission.