Youth Aren’t Spiritually Dead—They’re Spiritually Unstimulated.
- Pastor Derwin Jackson
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
By Pastor Derwin R. Jackson Sr.
Let’s be real—churches all over the everywhere are throwing in the towel when it comes to student ministry. You hear it in the meetings and pastor circles:
“These kids just don’t care about God anymore.”“They’re lost to the world.”“We can’t reach them like we used to.”
Ok I’m here to push back with LOVE and truth: Youth aren’t spiritually dead—they’re spiritually unstimulated.
🧠 The Message Still Works—But the Method Needs a Wake-Up Call
This generation is bombarded with information every second. TikTok, YouTube, music, school, sports, group chats—it’s nonstop stimulation. But when they show up to a student ministry that hasn’t evolved since 1998, what do we expect?
Here’s the hard truth: The Gospel is not boring. Our delivery sometimes is.
They aren’t rejecting Jesus. They’re rejecting how we’ve boxed Him in.
🛑 Stop Saying “We Used To…”
One of the biggest roadblocks to growth is this sentence right here:
“Well, we used to do this…” or “Back in the day, we had…”
And while it’s true that what worked then may have brought revival, clinging to the past is choking the future.
Old methods won’t build new momentum. Today’s students aren’t interested in a time machine. They want relevance. They want purpose.They want to see themselves leading—not just watching.
You don’t need to compromise the Gospel—just the approach.
🎣 It’s Time to Start Fishing Differently
When Jesus called His disciples, He didn’t start with a sermon—He started with a strategy: “Follow me, and I’ll make you fishers of men.”
At DRJ Ministries, we call our approach The Fishing Method. It’s not about flashy lights or pizza parties (though those are fun). It’s about casting wide nets through relevant engagement and pulling people into deeper waters through accountability, creative expression, and spiritual activation.
🔥 The Problem Isn’t Attention—It’s Activation
Young people don’t need another event. They need:
A place where their gifts are discovered
A leader who speaks their language without diluting the message
A ministry that challenges them to lead, not just sit
That’s what we’ve seen work in Augusta and Daytona—students stepping up as mimes, dancers, and even Bible study teachers. They weren’t unreachable. They were just waiting for someone to light the spark.
🗣️ Final Word
Pastor, youth leader, or frustrated parent—stop saying they’re gone.
They’re here.
They’re watching.
They just haven’t seen anything worth grabbing onto—yet.
Let’s build ministries that aren’t just alive—but actively awakening.
The youth aren’t gone… they’re just bored. Stop recycling old methods and expecting new results. It’s time to reignite your student ministry with strategy—not just hype.
📞 Book Pastor Derwin R. Jackson Sr. for a hands-on workshop that activates leaders and ignites youth.Let’s go from surviving to sending. 👇🏽
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