I've made a few observations at youth group the last couple of months and they were highlighted at DCYC. These aren't necessarily new to ministries like ours, but I want to articulate them so we're all aware and working on them together. Forgive my attempt at clever names. I'm calling them the Three Divisions. These are not so much groups of people as they are holes in the wide net of youth ministry. These separations allow our young people an easy out from an encounter with God. I want us to be conscious of them and focused on helping our teens persevere in their encounter regardless of any obstacles. Here goes:

1) The Amen Division: Some teens have said YES to a relationship with God. Some haven't. A third group is somewhere in the middle. It's important that we know where every individual is coming from and where they're heading. I think we do this by asking hard questions and holding our teens accountable to the Gospel. We must be encouraging but firm in the TRUTH of the Church. Jesus expected some of his followers to struggle with His teachings and even leave Him because of them. He preached the truth anyways. It is this truth that leads us to real encounter with Him. Be radical in your love for God, your witness, and your discipleship with our teens. They will respond to your joy!

2) The Brain Division: Some teens have a profound theological and catechetical understanding of the faith and perhaps even of Jesus. So many in this group DO NOT have a real relationship with Jesus as a friend and personal God. Encourage them to pray and to stretch their comfort zones by showing them radical hospitality and a radical witness of faith in prayer. 

3) The Heart Division: Some teens have a beautiful and deeply connected relationship with God that informs their attitude and daily life in wonderful ways. Often, these teens lack the basic knowledge of Catholicism to have a sense of the moral good and live a disciplined faith life. From here it's easy to slip into protestantism, relativism, or even atheism. Be bold with the teachings of the Church. We want our teens to feel good, but we also want them to be convicted (and excited!) to live the truth.