A Letter I wrote to Mike Yaconelli

I was looking through my old PC today for a few emails that I want to use in my book and I stumbled upon an email I wrote to Mike Yaconelli almost exactly 4 years ago. Mike responded and we exchange a phone call or two about it. Here is the original email I sent him.



"Mike. thanks for your love for youth workers. thanks for your huge heart. Your voice has been a strong encouragement to me in my life and ministry. My soul was in danger in a big mega position a few years back. You wrote an article that said, "Run for your soul". God used those words. I needed to run. so i did. i left ministry. or i should say. I left employment within a church. God has used you to minister to other's on journey's similar to mine. they don't believe in youth ministry anymore. Don't let that phrase lead you to believe that these brothers and sisters are not called to make sure students are ministered to. No these are folks who resonate with your words. Words that I think are strangely intuitive to you. Words I'm not sure you fully comprehend the magnitude of. Regardless there is a dangerous group of people out here.... committed to reaching students... and doing it in a way that will not ultimately hurt them. we are out here. Many of us have one foot out the door. We are contemplating working at Best Buy so we can be fully faithful. Many of us have found a local congregation that is allowing us to reimagine youth ministry. A growing majority are leaving ministry alltogether. These are people you've seen at conferences years ago. you've shaken our hands. You've received our emails. We are finding that there is not a bridge to this new kind of ministry with students.
Emergent is not it. though it is a part of it. There is not really any new thinking about youth ministry coming from this movement. It is a bridge for people to step into church planting. but many of us are not called to plant churches. What emergent will provide in years to come is an environment to rethink ym. This is all good.

Mike. We think youth ministry as an experiment is a failure. You had it right the first time. Your hunch was right. Youth ministry is not working. However, It is possible to encourage youth workers and affirm them in their calling and simultaneously say that ym is failing. To challenge them to rethink this ministry is not only a good idea, it is essential.
Let me challenge you to continue to rethink ym, or find ways of giving a voice to those who are. At least find ways of building a bridge to the future...of youth ministry for the growing number of us who are leaving traditional situations.
Let me assure you that I know this is not your responsability. It is not your job (or Youth Specialties) to provide these "ministers in the margins of ym" resources and encouragement as they are on their journey. your company sells books. mostly based on the idea of encouragement. you are a clearing house for youth ministry resources. You do this well. People put to many things on you and YS that do not belong there. If this email is simply another youth pastor whining to you about wanting YS to do something for them, please ignore it. But if you feel there might be something to this, then I would encourage you to find ways to immediately start engaging people in the conversation. If you desire, I would be willing to help. My involvement is not neccesary. But there is a need.

thanks again mike!

mark riddle"


It's interesting to reread this 4 years later. So much has changed in youth ministry. what I referred to in the letter about Youth Ministers in the margins are become more mainstream today. Though not mainstream enough if you ask me.