This chapter was titled Walking the Tightrope. In this chapter, DeVries explained the trick to Family-Based Youth Ministry. In order to have a truly successful youth ministry, you have to be able to balance continuity and individualization. If a ministry tips too far in one of these directions or the other, then the ministry will not be very successful. Since DeVries has focused so much upon the continuity of a youth ministry and it being tied in with the rest of the church, he focused a little more on the individualizing side.
"Jesus taught his disciples less often by giving them answers that they could memorize and more often by raising questions they couldn't answer, questions that would engage them more deeply in the pursuit of God." (pg 139)
I absolutely loved this point that DeVries made in this chapter. One of the biggest things that I think many youth leaders today neglect, is giving opportunities for students to think critically for themselves and allow them to try to work out answers to questions themselves. I've personally been trying this approach with the 7th grade boys small group that I am a leader in at a church that I volunteer at. This past week a couple of the students got into a big discussion, where I just threw in an idea, sat back, and let them take over in discussing it. By the end of the group time, they were turning to me saying that this was one of the most interesting and beneficial small group sessions that they had been in. I agree with what DeVries is saying about there being an importance and a place for both continuity with the rest of the church and individualization from the rest of the church. The process of finding this healthy balance between the two is truly a tightrope-walking act.
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