Each month I publish a list of the search term “youth pastor” in Google News.
Yes, this is an attack on youth ministry. Yes, this is personal. But it’s not me attacking us. It’s us attacking us. Our tribe destroys itself but while no self-change occurs. Collectively we devalue our profession in the eyes of the general public with each new instance of abuse, arrest, conviction.
We must root out evil.
We must create healthy ministries.
We need training, coaching, professional standards, and accountability.
If my drawing attention to this ticks you off…. good. It ought to make you sick that a profession which does SO MUCH GOOD in the world only makes the news largely for getting hired or gotten fired because they’ve been arrested.
If you don’t like the news change it. Make the news for doing good.
My daily prayer for youth ministry is that we, as a community of adults ministering to teenagers, would be good news in our neighborhoods. But prayer is not enough… join me in taking action.
Without further delay, here is this month’s list.
“Youth Pastor” in the News
- 2/1/2016 – Nicole Lovell’s church “shocked” by her death – wdbj7.com – VA
- 2/4/2016 – JUSTIN TRUETT, YOUTH PASTOR AT SIMCOE WORSHIP CENTER – cullmansense.com – AL
- 2/4/2016 – Youth pastor, school volunteer charged with sex crimes – Fox19.com – KY
- 2/4/206 – Orange County youth pastor to be sentenced again for child sexual assault – beaumontenterprise.com – TX
- 2/5/2016 – Memorial Service for South Florida Youth Pastor Killed in Burkina Faso Terrorist Attack – nbcmiami.com – FL
- 2/10/2016 – Zion Lutheran Church welcomes new youth pastor – Northern Wyoming News – WY
- 2/12/2016 – Local Youth Pastor “Boycotting” Beyonce’s Super Bowl Halftime Performance – newschannel9.com – TN
- 2/21/2016 – Pastor Redefines ‘Church’ For Transgender Youth – NPR – AZ
- 2/22/2016 – Trial delayed again for former Bonham youth pastor accused of rape – kxii.com – TX
- 2/24/2016 – Teacher Who Resigned Amid “Inappropriate Contact” Allegations Was Also Youth Pastor – Fox17.com – TN
- 2/24/2016 – Former Peterborough youth pastor to face another trial – Peterborough Examiner – Ontario
- 2/24/2016 – Mount Sinai celebrates youth ministry – New Orleans Advocate – LA
- 2/29/2016 – MC USA youth ministry group digs into Anabaptism – Mennonite World Review – FL
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