This current student generation must discover for itself that experience of God and a living relationship with God are more important in our lives than knowledge about God.  We know about God we have read about God but there comes a time when we have to allow God to move in our lives

Revival in youth ministry isn’t an orchrastrated event with a lot of bells and whistles but a much-needed spiritual movement that would engage teens in the exploration of what it means to live the Good News in communion with Jesus. Many of us grew up within a Christian culture that preached a “personal relationship with Jesus,” yet focused on beliefs (doctrinal correctness and defending one’s faith), morality (sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll) and emotionality (praise music and charismatic speakers) with little or no space given for actually experiencing the reality of our relationship with Christ.

A healthy and holy youth ministry should remind us of the nearness of God, our relatedness to Christ, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit—all of which empower us for acts of mercy, justice, and peace in the world. It’s challenging students to live holy in a world that is un holy.  It should challenge the way we organize our lives in light of our desire for God and commitment to share Christ’s compassion for others.  And that relationship with God the father should encompass how we eat, play, socialize, consume, and spend our time. It’s the heart of Christian discipleship. It is living out the very words of Jesus when he said “Be Holy as I am Holy”

Holiness is a needed corrective within youth ministry. How can we share God’s love if we don’t take regular time to let God love and empower us? How can young people trust our words about God if they’re not given the time and space to encounter God? Silence, prayer exercises, candles, and labyrinths can be helpful to young people and adults in noticing God’s presence within and among us. Yet, our spiritual exercises and experiences can be distracting and deceptive if they’re not grounded in the holiness of Jesus. As adults responsible for the spiritual formation of young people, we must discern what is holy within our spirituality programs.

If we trust that Christian holiness that truly revives us is about relationships rather than programming and processes, then we can repent from forms of youth ministry that rely on mystical props, eye candy and exotic outings and trust more in the presence of God. If we believe that holiness is about engagement rather than escape, hopefully we can have confidence that the ordinary tasks within our ministries will be enough to convey the Gospel.

As St. Francis once said, “Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words.” Perhaps God’s love is best expressed in how we greet kids, how we drive the church van, how we spend our money, and how we are in friendships and interactions with parents. Holiness is much more than how we pray; it’s about the life from which we pray.

Faith in Jesus Christ makes possible a wonderful personal relationship with God, a holy life empowered by His Spirit for witness and service, and assurance of eternal life in heaven.

So how does holiness become a relevant entity in youth ministry? By trying to help kids follow in the way of Jesus. The hope of revival isn’t that young people will become more religious or even spiritual—it’s that young people will become more open and available to the presence of Jesus and his ways of compassion and that would influence every part of their life.

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