Justice For The Uncool

by Lem Usita

It’s easy to program justice in another country, over the border, or in our communities, but how do we teach—or even better, live out justice—in our youth ministries at home?

I mean, we’ve gotten relatively good at programming events and activities to help and serve the poor and the forgotten. Students and parents alike are attracted to them. Many will raise thousands of dollars as part of justice campaigns outside of the safety of the youth room.

But what about inside the youth room?

What about those who feel marginalized in our youth groups? Those who’ve been told, directly or indirectly, that they’re not spiritual, not accepted—not cool? What if we’ve created environments of injustice in our own youth ministries?

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