Why Tenx10 Matters For Us

One of the joys of being part of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network is that we get to share tools that help leaders do their work with young people. We do that through the Extravaganza, Oasis webinars, the 3rdTuesday Conversation podcast, MartinsList, the Connect Journal, and more. But sometimes the best thing we can do is simply point each other toward resources that are already available.

That is why I want to highlight the Tenx10 initiative, a movement led by the Fuller Youth Institute. Their vision is bold: strengthen the faith of 10 million young people over the next 10 years by equipping churches and leaders. To support that vision, Tenx10 has created a wide range of resources: small group guides, training modules, conversation starters, and research summaries, all offered free of charge.

That word “free” is worth celebrating. Ministry is expensive, and smaller congregations often cannot afford the latest curriculum or training program. Tenx10’s decision to provide resources at no cost is a gift to the whole church, giving congregations of every size the opportunity to benefit.

Still, I know many of us in the ELCA feel a bit of hesitation when resources come from traditions that lean more evangelical. We wonder if they will carry theological assumptions or ministry practices that do not fit our context. We worry about whether they might emphasize exclusion or promote a way of forming faith that does not reflect our Lutheran commitments to grace, inclusivity, and God’s action in Christ.

These are fair concerns, and it is wise to be discerning. But I also wonder if our caution sometimes becomes skepticism that keeps us from receiving valuable tools. Fuller Youth Institute has built a long track record of research and resources that are trusted across denominations. Their work is grounded in scholarship, tested in real ministry contexts, and adaptable. Tenx10 is no exception.

And I’ve had the opportunity to connect and work with some of the leaders in the Tenx10 initiative. All the leaders I have experienced are committed to a Gospel of welcome and inclusion. To be fair, I don’t think that all of the partner denominations/organizations working with Tenx10 share in our commitment to justice and inclusion…but I have complete trust in the commitments of the Tenx10 leadership.

If we choose not to engage simply because these resources come from another corner of the church, we risk missing out. Even more, we risk losing the opportunity to add our Lutheran voice to the conversation. Imagine Tenx10 shaping the conversation about the faith formation of young people without us at the table. The distinctive gifts we bring: our theology of grace, our commitment to community, our focus on vocation, would be absent. The broader church would be poorer for it.

This is why our involvement matters. By engaging, we help shape the work. We can affirm what is good, adapt what needs context, and challenge what does not fit. We move from being spectators to being true partners.

By engaging, we help shape the work.

Here is one example: Tenx10 offers a training guide on listening deeply to young people’s stories. That emphasis on listening resonates beautifully with our Lutheran practice of accompaniment. Ministry is not about giving quick answers, but about walking with others as they discover God’s presence in their lives. When we bring our theological grounding into this resource, we enrich it with the language of grace and vocation.

There is also a practical side. We do not need to reinvent the wheel when someone else has already created something helpful. We can receive these resources with gratitude, run them through our Lutheran lens, and put them to work in our settings. That is good stewardship of time, energy, and budgets.

Tenx10 will continue whether we take part or not. But if we engage, we broaden its reach and make sure that the millions of young people it seeks to serve also hear the witness of God’s unconditional grace.

So I encourage you to explore the Tenx10 resources. Try them with your teams. Share them with your young people. See where they connect with your ministry. And most importantly, add your voice. Because when we do, not only do we strengthen Tenx10, we also strengthen our own ministries and witness to the expansive grace of God in Jesus Christ.

Peace in Christ!
Todd

Rev. Todd Buegler
Executive Director, ELCA Youth Ministry Network