Question to the youth group: We learned about the Exodus a couple of months ago. Who led the people out of Egypt?
Youth Group Reply: Silence. Blank stares.
The youth workers worse fear. We think that we have taught and we find out no one learned. We assumed they were getting it and we find that they were being polite as they quietly nodded during those months of lessons.
The need for evaluation in youth ministry is known by most youth workers. Some stumble into the need through experience and others are taught to evaluate lessons, activities, and events from the beginning. Either way evaluation is important.
The Pew Institute has recently evaluated the U.S. on Religious Knowledge. Most of the headlines report that Atheists know more about religion than religious people. The reports state Christians, Protestant and Catholic, are some of the least knowledgeable.
Whether you think that the 32 question survey is incomplete like Rick Meigs or you see some of the results as shocking like Chris at Gospel.com, you have to admit that the evaluation is necessary. Therefore, I think that the Pew Research Center's survey on U.S. Religious Knowledge affords youth workers a unique opportunity to evaluate teens basic religious knowledge online. Pew has placed a 15 question quiz here. The 15 questions are similar to the 32 questions presented in the survey.
I suggest that youth workers could use this online quiz as a discussion starter and an evaluation. The discussion might lead to some unexpected holy conversations. The evaluation aspect might lead to a great set of lessons on world religions which lead your students to live faithful lives in their pluralistic society.
By: Paul Sheneman
Barefoot Training Articles
Archive
Subscribe to Barefoot Training Articles by Email
Tags
barefoot training missional community youth worker narrative youth ministry Pew Research student ministry youth pastor barefoot ministries christian formation small group youth workers training youth ministry formation youth ministry training youth formation Family U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey faith formation Immerse NYWC small group leader missional youth ministry youth culture teen culture christian education youth worker training
We encourage you to explore our workshops and find out how you can join or host a training in your community.
Read what we've been thinking lately
Barefoot Training is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip you to guide your students into Christian formation for the mission of God. Each training experience offers an interactive environment where you are able to design, create, and nurture a biblically based, Christ-centered youth ministry in your church and community.
Comments
Great article! Keep it up!
Glen
While they seemed to be stating that Christians today a dummies about their religion the data actually show that Christians don't have much knowledge of other world religions. In any case it has been my assertion for a long time that our teens (tomorrows church) does need a better historical education about their faith. The good part about the study showed that Christians today are very spiritual. We've been concentrating on the relationship with Jesus/God not necessarily the knowledge of God.
Evaluation is essential to strike a balance and build the Spiritual Armor we all need.