Why are local church discipleship/training programs becoming increasing popular?
The need for ministry and leadership training in a local church context. Many pastors are discouraged with the annual “brain drain” from the youth group. The best and the brightest graduate from high school and go away to attend the college of their choice. Then when it comes time to find a qualified leader the Pastor is forced to look outside of the local church. Wouldn’t it be better to train those who have grown up in the local church? The need to minister more effectively to young people in a post-high school transition. Some young people go away from home and succeed elsewhere while others founder and don’t do well anywhere. Why? This question has been studied by many youth leaders and they have all drawn similar conclusions. Graduation from high school launches a young person into a rather traumatic transition into young adulthood. The main reason why it is so traumatic is the fact that their entire social structure, almost all their relational connections, change. As a result, t
