serial youth pastor

Over the past few years ATF (Acquire the Fire) has garnered a lot of criticism over the way they do certain things.  Or over the way they use “scare tactics” as some say.  Honestly I loved ATF when we first started going 6 years ago.  Many of our students were not believers and it gave us an opportunity to let them hear and see the Gospel presented in a way that they had never seen before.  I really think that God has used ATF in a big way in the lives of our students.  We have taken over 400 people to ATF in the past 6 years.  I still can’t believe it when I see it on paper.  My biggest question though is this, “How has ATF helped them to become better disciples?”  Now I understand that ATF can’t be held 100% liable for not transforming our students into disciples but I have always felt that there’s not much meat there to digest.  Maybe I’m being too critical though.

Here are some things I have grown to not like over the years;

• infomercials – it seemed in the past like they were trying to make a quick (and often expensive) buck.  they were always pushing their gear (swag) at every break
• you left feeling like you had been yelled at all weekend
• they had the cure for your youth group.  it just never seemed that they wanted to support the local church.  (this has changed over the past few years)
• hype, hype, hype
• not enough discipleship (or material geared towards it) happened at the event

There were some good things like;

• great at being creative in sharing the Gospel
• drama’s were good
• the worship wasn’t bad
• selling tickets by section and not as general admission only seats

This fall we went to Dare 2 Share (D2S)and it was amazing.  It is so different than ATF.  The focus is different.  ATF is good at evangelizing the non-believing student where D2S is good at mobilizing believing students to actively share their faith.  Also at D2S they get into some theology and really challenge the students.  What I am wondering though is this; “Has ATF run it’s course and is on the start of their way out?”  I don’t know.  Only God knows the plans he has for things like ATF and D2S.

What I do know is this – next year I will make the push to go to D2S and not ATF.  I think we’re ready to take that next step and see students get on fire about sharing Christ with their friends.  So this year was kind of bittersweet.

It may have very well been our final ATF event.