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Letters
group magazine: November-December, 2008
youth vs. students I feel the last Youth Ministry Minute made a poor semantic argument (“Stop Calling Kids ‘Students’ ” September/October 2008). How we label youth can make a difference—how we define labels remains greater still. My “kids” didn’t choose that label. On the other hand, they choose to come and learn—that makes them “students.” This is neither derogatory nor a thoughtless hangover from public school nomenclature. Students learn, and by calling kids “students” I subtly remind them of why we exist—to become discoverers of Truth, students of God, disciples in every way. jared peer / Tennessee Thank you for your editorial. I’ve been in youth work for over 30 years and I’ve fought within myself the pressure to call youth “students.” I couldn’t explain why, but I knew it was wrong. With that article I can now give some reasons. Thanks also for trying to excise the word from group. I can imagine the flack you’ve received from “the ones in the know.” julian stephens / Montgomery, Alabama You are dead-on about not categorizing people by what they do. I was proud to see that you work hard at eliminating the word “student” from group Magazine. Then I began thumbing through the rest of the magazine and got to page 12. Behold, an ad for group asking me to subscribe to ministryandmedia.com so I can “Use pop culture to deepen your students’ understanding of the gospel!” The only thing funnier would have been if the ad was on a facing page! craig krueger / Ennis, Texas web extra go to youthministry.com for... Lessons From a Retail Store: Youth pastor Mike Kupferer’s frustrating experience at a retail store reminds him of the mistakes he’s made in serving his own “customers.” |
