The following scenario is probably all too real since it has been played out in many churches for many years. A church needs someone to work with teenagers. A young, energetic, relevant, and willing youth worker is identified and recruited to fulfill that need. The new youth worker works hard to develop close, personal relationships with the students. It takes awhile, but they respond positively, and soon the kids develop the all-too-familiar characteristics of that of a typical church youth group. They hang out with only each other, as if they have a secret that no one else knows about. Students willingly share personal information with the adult youth leader, who has demonstrated an ability to keep confidences and has taken the time to get close to the teens. The group as a whole has almost no interaction with any other age groups in the church. And while this is happening, the parents of teenagers become increasingly frustrated by the seeming superficiality of the youth group, yet they appreciate the care and concern this youth worker is showing to their children.

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