I have been a baseball fan since I was a kid. In recent years it has become common to see teams play the “shift” against hitters who can only pull the ball to their strong side. This puts most of the infielders on one side of the infield to better defend against the batter. I always love it when the batter sees the shift and adjusts. He will either lay down a beautiful bunt to the opposite side or awkwardly poke a ball through for the base hit. I love that it upsets the shift.
The Lord first called me into camp ministry 24 years ago and then redirected that calling 18 years ago toward serving students in the local church. Over the years, the settings have changed, the culture has shifted, and the questions students are asking have progressed—but the calling has remained the same. Then eight years ago, I arrived in East Texas and did what I had always done in every ministry context God had placed me in: I jumped in and started serving students.
In 2021, however, it became clear that something in our student ministry needed to change again. It was time to adjust to the shift.
The Shift I Saw Coming
Every Wednesday night, I would stand in front of students who were present, engaged relationally, and comfortable in the room, but disconnected in a more concerning way. The disconnect wasn’t relational; it was biblical understanding and application.
Students were showing up, but many couldn’t explain why the Bible mattered, what they were supposed to do with what they believed, or how faith connected to real life.
Questions kept surfacing:
- Why should the Bible be important to me?
- What am I supposed to do with what I believe?
- How do I change?
I knew we had a wide spectrum of students, some with strong biblical foundations, others with little to no church background at all. Most had only experienced Scripture in short, segmented moments during Sunday morning or midweek worship. That wasn’t enough anymore (and, in reality, it never was). There was a shift in play and I needed to adjust.
At the same time, I had to confront something harder: I needed to self-reflect. I regularly challenge students to examine their own hearts, and the Lord made it clear I needed to do the same. It’s easy to identify problems “out there” while overlooking the ways we, as pastors and volunteers, contribute to the disconnect through vocabulary, assumptions, or teaching styles that unintentionally leave students behind.
That’s when it became clear: our students didn’t just need more information. They needed apologetics—a framework that helps them understand the why, what, and how of biblical faith.
Why Apologetics Became Central
Students today face challenges constantly—from home, school, social media, and culture at large. Our world demands immediate answers but rarely provides meaningful ones. If we want students to walk with Jesus for a lifetime, we must help them build a foundation that can withstand pressure. Regardless of upbringing or education, every student needs a solid biblical foundation.
Apologetics provides that foundation.
At its core, apologetics asks a simple but essential question: “Why should I believe this?”
That question doesn’t undermine faith—it strengthens it. Our student ministry includes both believers and those still searching. Apologetics allows us to disciple both at the same time, presenting the Gospel clearly to those who don’t yet know Christ and strengthening the faith of those who do.
Some argue apologetics doesn’t belong in youth ministry. My response is simple: When should it start? If we aren’t helping students wrestle with what they believe about God, Scripture, and truth now, why would we expect them to adopt a biblical worldview later?
I’ve watched cultural shifts reshape student ministry over the years, and each one has required intentional adjustment. Shifting toward an apologetics-centered approach helped me see the bigger picture: students aren’t just learners for a season—they are disciples in formation.
Apologetics didn’t become a class we added. It became the umbrella under which everything else lived.
Adjusting to the Shift
When I sensed the Lord leading us toward change, I knew it had to begin with me—specifically, how I taught.
Our church already emphasized expositional preaching and teaching on Sundays. Students were hearing solid biblical instruction in Sunday School, corporate worship, and even verse-by-verse teaching during midweek services. This was familiar territory, and I had seen God use it faithfully.
But familiarity isn’t the same as effectiveness.
After prayer and counsel from trusted voices, it became clear that our Wednesday night model needed to change. Students needed teaching that was deeply rooted in truth and heavy in application. That required a shift in teaching style, one that was uncomfortable at first, but necessary.
It was at this point I was reminded of 1 Peter 3:15: “but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” Our focus shifted to equipping students to give a defense of the Gospel.
We leaned into:
- More discussions in our small groups.
- Clearly defining theological terms and phrases in large group.
- Real-life application that they could take with them.
- Space for questions and answers.
- Flexibility in our structure and time.
That flexibility extended beyond teaching. It reshaped retreat curriculum, volunteer training, and small-group preparation. Volunteers were equipped not just to lead content, but to walk alongside students asking honest questions.
The fruit has been undeniable.
Students with no prior church background began wrestling with why a biblical worldview matters. Volunteers built deeper relationships. Students started meeting on their own to study Scripture, encourage one another, and hold each other accountable. Many now run toward leaders for counsel, celebration, and guidance.
We don’t stand up each week and announce, “Tonight we’re studying apologetics.” But apologetics is woven into everything we do, because students are learning to see the world through the lens of God’s design, His Word, and His love revealed through Jesus Christ. We want to equip each student with a biblical worldview they can take with them when they graduate high school and pursue the next step in their lives.
Assessing Your Own Ministry
If you’re considering a similar shift, start here:
- Pray for discernment – Ask God to clearly reveal whether change is needed. If He’s prompting movement, don’t delay.
- Ask hard questions – Invite honest feedback from volunteers and students. Be ready to hear answers you didn’t expect.
- Seek counsel – Talk with your pastor and other ministry leaders. If you lack peers, find faithful brothers and sisters who can speak truth into your life and ministry.
- Welcome criticism & praise – Take the feedback that you’ve been given and welcome it with an open heart for your students. Your toes might get stepped on, but your back may be sore from encouragement, as well.
- Look at your resources – Regardless of church size or resources, there is a way to make this shift. Examine what your current resources are (e.g. curriculum, space, volunteers, etc.). It will be different for everyone.
Making Adjustments
Here are some practical first steps:
- Pray intentionally – Seek God’s vision and invite others to pray with you.
- Find resources – Books, podcasts, conferences, and training materials can equip both you and your volunteers.
- Equip your team – Volunteers need tools to grow personally and disciple students effectively.
- Place people well – Let volunteers serve within their gifting, whether leading discussion or faithfully serving behind the scenes.
- Pray again – You can prepare all week, but only God grants understanding.
- Commit to consistency – Give any change time, such as six months to a year. Set a goal and stick with it. Early discomfort doesn’t mean failure. None of us have arrived. Even if you’ve been doing this for decades, you’re going to mess up somewhere. Just accept it and keep striving to honor the Lord.
- Keep the Gospel at the center – “Disciples make disciples.” So ultimately, we are called to shepherd and disciple students to go out and make disciples. If all that your students can remember and quote are facts that aren’t centered on the Gospel, your work isn’t done. Walk with them.
- Don’t go overboard – There are great resources out there that will help as you make this shift in ministry. Don’t get so caught up in the method that you lose focus on the mission.
Be Encouraged
If God is prompting you to rethink your approach, don’t wait, because apologetics isn’t about creating debaters.It’s about forming disciples who know why they believe what they believe and how to live it out faithfully. Are your students being prepared to give a defense? Are they equipped to live out the Gospel in meaningful ways?
Your students are already asking the questions that matter. God has put you there to help them discover the answers—rooted in truth, shaped by love, and grounded in Christ.
