It’s rare that you hear a report of a pastor articulating what, unfortunately, many churches are about. Steve Cleary of RevelationMedia sent out an email Sunday, March 16, talking about his stint as a youth pastor a long time ago. He had been trying to, in his words:

…speak about world missions, Christian persecution, Christ’s second coming, and our roles and callings as Christians to win the lost. We wrote letters to Christians who were imprisoned for their faith (in Russia during the Communist era), and we took opportunities to volunteer at outreach events. Of course, we also had times of fun, games, and weekend outings, but my primary goal was to help the students develop a Biblical worldview. – Steve Cleary, May 16, 2021, speaking of his goal as a youth minister years ago

It turns out some parents and even the pastor didn’t want this sort of emphasis in their youth program. Steve tried to plead his case. Finally the pastor said,

Look, your job is to keep these kids out of trouble until they grow up, get married, pay their tithe, and serve in the church. – a senior pastor to Steve Cleary, at the time, a youth minister

Really? That’s your goal? That kids grow up, get married, pay their tithe, and serve in the church? That’s what you think God requires…of you and of them?

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6.8, ESV)

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry… (Ephesians 4.11, 12, ESV, emphasis mine)