Ask Doug: What are your thoughts on youth groups?

Yes! And amen. Everything is based on what 'ministry' means. Drawing a crowd or growing disciples? Plugging up the Xbox or opening up the Bible? Supporting Christian parents in Christian homes trying to raise Christian kids, or supplanting them? Preparing teenagers to be grown ups in the church, for church life that's not all about them, where they sing and give and listen and pray? Or guaranteeing that the next generation of churches will look just like adult youth groups. Or even more like them than many currently do. Were that possible.