Are Teens the Future or Present of the Christian Church?

A recent article in The Eagle Tribune Online reported the response a youth minister had to the statement that, "teens are the future of the Catholic Church." He stated that he did not believe Christian teens are the future of the church, but rather that they are the present. He wondered what kind of faith teens today would have later in their lives if they were ignored or neglected by the church.

Youth group events and activities are not just about "keeping kids out of trouble." They serve a purpose. I have seen Christian teens leading the way for adults, showing them an openness to faith that they have never seen before. I have also seen servanthood in teens where it becomes secondary in the lives of adults. In my experience, I have seen what the minister stated out loud. Christian teens are not just the future of the church, but very much the present.

• Youth Group Ideas and Activities
• Eagle Tribune: Minister: Teens are Necessary to the Catholic Church