To pizza or not to pizza, that is the question. At least that is what appears to be the crucial topic in youth ministry by a simple observation of Leadership Journal this year. In the Spring 2011 volume of Leadership Journal, a cover story “A Red Bull Gospel” takes readers to page 33 where you find a large picture of pizza with this subtitle, “It takes more than pizza and video games to give people a faith that endures”. A few months earlier, in the Fall 2010 edition, on page 13 you find two articles about youth ministry and pizza, “Pizza Still Works”, and “The Fading of Youth Ministry”. In this edition the two stories are placed right next to each other on the same page and espouse contradictory messages about the use of pizza in ministry. “Pizza Still Works” tells readers to email the pastor for details of their effective outreach. “The Fading of Youth Ministry” tells us “They’re not even coming for the pizza anymore”. Read the rest of this entry »