After a recent Children’s Day, my kids returned from school focused on ranking their teachers’ affection based on the gifts they received. This innocent yet revealing moment prompted my wife and me to pause and reflect. To help them see beyond such comparisons, we decided to celebrate at Waw Waw Wet. During the outing, my wife remarked that I’ve truly aged — I preferred the relaxing “Shook River” over the adventurous slides I once loved. It struck me how much I’ve changed, how a certain youthful spark has faded over time.
Youth, by nature, carries distinctive traits — energy, vibrancy, and an eagerness to try new things. Young people can function on little sleep, explore new foods and activities with excitement, and pack an incredible amount into a single day. They often surprise older companions with how quickly they bounce back after just a short rest. In fact, accompanying youth on overseas trips can feel more demanding than army training!
These youthful traits are God-given. When guided and disciplined rightly, they become powerful tools for advancing the gospel. Whether leading Bible studies, evangelizing, or faithfully serving in church, the rise of young people who desire God’s Word and are eager to serve is a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness. It also reflects the continuity of the gospel’s work across generations. What a joy it is to see capable young people taking ownership in ministries like AV, ushering, teaching, and choir — living proof that God’s work continues from generation to generation.
Navigating the Dangers of Youth Ministry: Roots vs. Zeal
While it is glorious to see youth taking ownership in church, we must also be cautious. Many churches today are quick to overload or overempower youth before they are ready. In hopes of sparking revival, some push young believers into leadership, mission trips, and ministry responsibilities too soon. Though these initiatives may yield short-term fruit, they often neglect an equally crucial foundation — being deeply rooted in God’s Word and growing in spiritual maturity through Christ-centered, intergenerational discipleship.
Without this grounding, youth may develop zeal without roots. The result? Burnout, discouragement, and a faith easily de-prioritized when life gets busy. They risk building their spiritual lives on sand rather than the solid rock of Christ, as described in Matthew 7.
Verses like Jeremiah 1:7 and 1 Timothy 4:12 are often quoted to encourage young people not to be despised because of their age. Yet, these same passages also remind us that true spiritual influence flows from deep intimacy with God. Jeremiah’s courage was rooted in God’s authority, not self-driven passion. Timothy was called to set an example not merely by activity, but by knowing and living God’s truth.
God uses people of all ages — no one is ever too young or too old to be used for His purposes. However, effective and lasting service begins with being shaped by His Word. Without that foundation, there are three significant dangers that arise when youth are pushed too quickly into ministry: spiritual prematurity, a “work over word” culture, and generational division.
Danger 1: Spiritual Prematurity
The first danger is spiritual prematurity — mistaking physical or emotional maturity for spiritual maturity. A young person may excel academically, lead well, or even handle finances wisely, but that doesn’t necessarily indicate spiritual depth. Likewise, efficient service does not equal spiritual maturity. Youth can organize successful camps and programs while still wrestling with doubts about God’s love or struggling in their personal faith.
Scripture calls us, “like newborn babies, [to] crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). Growth takes time, space, and patient guidance. Young believers need room to ask questions, wrestle with doubts, and experience God’s grace before feeling pressured to serve.
Just as one cannot accurately describe a taste they’ve never experienced, youth cannot proclaim the gospel with conviction unless they have personally tasted its goodness. Reverend Joel Kim once noted that while worldly maturity means independence, Christian maturity means greater dependence — on God. That is the posture we must nurture in our youth, echoing Jesus’ words in John 15:5: “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.”
Danger 2: The “Work Over Word” Culture
The second danger is developing a “work over word” culture. When young people are hurried into ministry without deep scriptural grounding, their focus can shift from receiving to performing. Over time, they may begin to equate spiritual worth with busyness, settling for shallow sermons or lacking the discernment to recognize false teaching.
When the emphasis tilts toward doing rather than knowing, ministry becomes a stage for recognition rather than a means of worship. Youth may begin to prioritize serving over listening, leading to burnout and disillusionment. Deprived of spiritual nourishment, they eventually fall into self-pity or drift away entirely.
In every generation, the church must remember this truth: zeal without roots cannot sustain faith. The goal of youth ministry isn’t to produce performers but disciples — men and women deeply anchored in God’s Word, shaped by His Spirit, and walking humbly with Him.
