Using Today's Music in Ministry

It's easier than you think, and you don't have to be an expert!

by Anna Scally

Today's music is the soundtrack of youth culture. That's a "like it or not" statement. So if we plan to establish deeper ministry connections with young people, we can't ignore their emotional commitment to their music and our (unsurprising) adult aversion to it. Here's the defining question: Do we undermine their music or use it as a bridge into their lives?

Research shows that adolescent interest in current music fuels the TV programs they watch, the magazines they read, the places they hang out, the dances they go to, and their durable products they buy (portable CD players, car sound systems, and so on.)

It's this pervading influence on kids' choices and beliefs that has so many adults worried. Many see pop music as a direct threat to the traditional Christian values they're trying to instill in teenagers.

There are two ways to deal with this "threat":

1. Attack popular music's importance to young people by focusing on its obnoxious messages, images, and resulting behaviors. Those who try this strategy will eventually find themselves frustrated and probably more isolated from the kids they're trying to reach.

    

2. Accept pop music's prominent plant in kids' lives, and use it as a connecting point with them. We don't have to like popular music to recognize its power to open doors to ministry. We can disagree with its negative content but use it to discuss truth, values, and choices with our teenagers.

How to get started? It's easier than you think.

Prayer Sparks

A great way to get young people more involved in prayer is to ask them to choose songs that can express their prayers. "Ask them these questions: What song would you use to talk to God today? What song do you wish God would use to talk to you today?

Ask kids to form groups of no more than five to talk about their answers to the two questions. Later, have a Show & Tell Night featuring the top picks. Read aloud each song's words (from their notes or a good lyrics site); then play the song. Can you imagine what will happen the next time your kids near that song? It'll spur many to pray.

Bible Time

Ask kids to each choose a Scripture story that helps them articulate what's going on in their lives. For example, if they're feeling judged and left out by "the crowd," maybe they'll choose the story of Zacchaeus. Have them explain how their own stories connect to their chosen Bible stories. Then take them a step further. Have them each find a psalm that connects to their experience. Then have them find songs that deal with the same issues.

Challenge your young people to start journals of their Scripture choices and accompanying songs. Use this as a tool to encourage dialogue about the struggles and choices they face every day. Or design your next retreat around these issues.

Excavating Needs

Effective ministry responds to the real needs of teens. How do we discover those needs? Why not go straight to the source? Instead of asking kids, "What do you need?" ask, "What do you worry about?" Encourage them to respond in writing. Next, ask them to prioritize the issues they're most worried about. Here's where music can play a great role. Ask them to pick the songs that best describe their top worries. Have them describe each song's message, then tell how it mirrors their life. Once you've surfaced the problem and talked about it, have the group suggest a song that offers a solution to that worry. Use the song's lyrics to generate discussion on ways to handle the problem.

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