From Mark Yaconelli’s Growing Souls: Experiments in Contemplative Youth Ministry.

“Youth, seeking to enter adulthood, are looking for guides or mentors who can show them adult forms of life that radiate with the love of Christ…

In our interviews with youth it became abundantly clear that young people aren’t interested in the words their teachers are speaking as much as the life and soul from which these words arise.  As the adults in our project began to experience transformation, they expressed a deepened desire to be authentic and caring toward the youth in their ministries.  They sought to share their growing spiritual passion with the youth of their church and to provide settings, where the youth could also experience this newfound life.

Suddenly, youth ministry became a place of nourishment and creative exploration.  Ministry was now about exploring experiences of God and activities of faith alongside young people.  These leaders had been freed to become disciples among youth rather than experts transferring religious information.”