Technology is a way of life and as youth pastors we find it of great importance and use in staying in touch with what’s happening in the lives of our students. Unfortunately sadly we can find that technology can be a real challenge to deal with at times. I have had numerous encounters with the question of cell phones and their influence during youth ministry programs. Camps, Holiday clubs, prayer session and weekly programs can all go very wrong at times when is comes to the use of cell phones. Please think youth having cell phones is not a bad thing especially when your trying to track them down in a busy mall and hence I right this article coming from the perspective of caution, but at no point do I say that cell phones are bad or evil. My experiences might be different, but for the sake of those who seek guidance I offer the following advice.

First off, I’m sure that you aware of the dangers; I have been involved with quite a few situations where cell phones have been a real problem. A few years back we had a Holiday Club where one of the guys’s sent a sms to a girl in the girl’s room containing sexual content. Fortunately we found out about it. The consequence was two leaders sent home and a bad vibe for the duration of the Holiday Club. Today I collect all cell phones during holiday clubs.

What I suggest is the following based on my own experience:

• Buy a cell phone jammer! (If it’s a real problem, just remember to turn it off after program, I have never personally resorted to this but I know people who have).

• Do a talk on the subject. I would call it “how easily we are distracted from what God is trying to say to us”.  Make it interactive so that people won't feel the need to play on their phones. I would talk about how using your cell phone is not only distracting you but those around you.

• The next idea is to create a culture in the group of sincerity in the message, and in worship. There are moments that I believe we can ask all the youth to turn their phones on silent and to put them away. Include it in your announcements, Have an overhead or a PowerPoint asking people to turn off their phones. If they really push your buttons ask them to turn it off from the pulpit and ask them to leave if they cannot respect others around them. It usually only happens once and then they get the drift!

• There will always be those few who will rebel if they are a small minority and not distracting the others then you’re not doing to bad. It's youth ministry and there is enough to keep you busy other then a small group of people. We have them in our service their there every Wednesday even more regular then those who don’t play on there cell phone, ironic. You should be more worried about their soul then there bill at the end of the month.

• Another mistake I have made in the past  is to have the internet’s wireless un guarded (with out a password) I could never figure out what they where doing, until one of my leaders piped up and said that they could use the internet at church to do there school projects. I’m sure not all of them where doing research for school.

• It’s a good idea to embrace technology think about a bulk SMS facility it works really well to remind them of special gatherings. There are some great tools you can use to connect with your youth, Face book, Twitter, MXIT, ect. It’s amazing how hones youth will be on there face book seriously! Cell phones in the right context are not all bad!

• Check to see if maybe it's the message or the music, are they relevant! Often this can be a good indicter of effectiveness. I say this lightly because it’s by no means a great one but the question needs to be asked: Are you giving the young people what they need or are you giving them what you think they need to hear? Some where their needs to be a balance. I would recommend asking them if the topics you are using are actually relevant, you are welcome to download a survey form from our site and adapt it to your needs.

I trust this helps, your welcome to reply to this article and give us your ideas and thoughts. Please note that we are not called to be policeman or behavior modification but to lead young people to Jesus. Our purpose of leading those who come to our programs to Jesus is way more important then what they do. I see far too many old ladies moaning about the girls dress code then asking about there salvation.

Blessings may your ministry be filled with a passion for Jesus!