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“Youth Group T-Shirts are Stupid”

Last Updated July 22, 2010 by Matt 23 Comments

For a while now, I’ve wanted to make a youth group t-shirt that said just that when we went to a big youth event where there would likely be a bunch of youth groups with their own t-shirts. I wonder if people would get it. But, alas, we haven’t ever made that kind of t-shirt, for two reasons:

  1. We don’t go to many big events like that.
  2. I avoid youth group t-shirts if at all possible.

In my five years of youth ministry, we have never had a youth group t-shirt of any sort. Every now and then someone will suggest that we need a t-shirt for this or that, and I take it under advisement and see if anyone feels strongly enough about it to bring it up again or take the steps to actually make it happen. So far, no one has.

Now, I don’t think you are evil or have a bad youth group if you have t-shirts for your ministry (because that would include about every youth group in the country, it seems). I have just personally made a commitment to avoid expending any of my energy of youth group t-shirts for a few reasons:

  • T-shirts are not important. You have to prioritize in ministry, right? “Keep the main thing the main thing,” they say. T-shirts do not fall into that category. The church has existed long enough without youth groups and churches having their own t-shirts.
  • “They’re just t-shirts; it’s not that big of a deal.” I had one of my good friends say that to me one time after we had a conversation about why I didn’t do t-shirts. His point was that there wasn’t harm in doing them and that they weren’t “that big of a deal.” I agree that they aren’t a big deal, which is why I choose to go without them.
  • T-shirts do not create identity. I’ve heard some people say t-shirts are a good way to provide cohesion and identity to a group. Maybe so, but that’s not the kind of identity I want to create in my group. First of all, if there is no other way we can think of to create identity within our ministries than to make a t-shirt, our time would be better spent trying to figure out a possible alternative. Second, we say that our identity is found in being children of God, so I try and put that into practice. You can’t teach a lesson on identity-in-Christ and then go and try to create identity-by-t-shirt.
  • Some people can’t imagine youth ministry without t-shirts. If that is the case, then you should probably go without t-shirts for a while. There’s more to ministry than t-shirts. It’s possible to do youth ministry without t-shirts. I promise.
  • I’ve made it this far. Part of the inspiration to keep going without a youth ministry shirt is that it’s already been five years without one. This wasn’t really a life goal that I had, but when I started thinking about it I realized that I’ve never had a shirt in any group I’ve worked with, and that seemed like a pretty significant streak. So now I’m trying to avoid them to keep my record going. Maybe a whole 30-year youth ministry career with no t-shirts? I bet it can be done.

Because of all the above, I really don’t care for t-shirts, so I’m not going to spend any of my time making them happen. If someone else thinks it is that important, someone else will take that project on. And if your group does the t-shirt thing, I don’t think less of you. But don’t tell me they are a necessity to ministry, because they just aren’t.

Has anyone else given up on youth group t-shirts? Or would there be a mutiny in your group if you didn’t have a t-shirt for your next mission trip?

Filed Under: Youth Ministry Tagged With: t-shirts

About Matt

Matt Cleaver has written since 2004 on youth ministry, theology, and the church. His blog was ranked by Youth Specialties as a Top 20 Youth Ministry Blog. Click here for Matt's list of the Best Youth Ministry Books.

Comments

  1. tghali says

    July 22, 2010 at 10:12 am

    Haha, love it.
    We never wear the same shirt to an event or on a mission trip but I have made shirts and handed them out on the last day of a retreat or something.

    The last few years however, I’ve handed out bags (like the YS bag made by Freeset) books or journals.

    Regarding shirts though, I have encouraged students to purchase them for a ministry or non-profit like a missions org or at an Invisible Children screening or TWLOA, etc. That’s about all we do in terms of attire these days.

    I do agree with the identity part. At best, t-shirts are expression, hopefully aspects of identity are shaped and discovered in our Creator and nurtured by our youth min. culture, ie, community.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      July 22, 2010 at 10:38 am

      I didn’t even comment on how ugly most youth group t-shirts are. Dang it, forgot about that one.

      Reply
  2. Matt says

    July 22, 2010 at 10:52 am

    I just had to post this from my good friend Brit on twitter after he read my post: “well seeing as i have just purchased three orders of shirts this summer for our events…”

    I still love you, Brit.

    Reply
  3. Adam Walker Cleaveland says

    July 22, 2010 at 11:40 am

    I love this because I just added “Figure out youth group t-shirts” to my todo list for today and then read this post.

    I agree with everything. I’m just a big fan of t-shirts. But in the two years I’ve been at my current church no one can figure out what we want.

    At my previous church we had a shirt that just said “this is a youth group shirt” on the front with our church name on the back. I think that’s what we are thinking about this time as well. We got a bunch of them and just gave them to folks when they visited or started coming to our group.

    I don’t think it does much to really genuinely create a deeper bond and sometimes it is just another way to establish a clique with your group.

    I just think they can be fun which is the only reason I’m still thinking about doing them here at the church I’m at now.

    Reply
    • Adam Walker Cleaveland says

      July 22, 2010 at 11:41 am

      And when I wrote “at my previous shirt” – clearly I meant “at my previous church.”

      Reply
      • Matt says

        July 22, 2010 at 1:06 pm

        Fixed.

        Reply
    • Matt says

      July 22, 2010 at 1:08 pm

      I would expect someone into design to like t-shirts. It makes sense.

      I would also expect someone who is utterly uncreative to loathe them, hence: me.

      Reply
  4. Adam Lehman says

    July 22, 2010 at 12:09 pm

    Haha. I only have made a shirt for our fall retreat once in 2 years.

    I like to use the shirts as a way to start conversations about unjust practices in the textile industry. We order shirts that are a few dollars more expensive and we ask people to pay for them. Lots of times, parents or kids ask why our shirts aren’t $5 or $10.

    I look at em and say, “these shirts weren’t made by slaves, so it costs us a few dollars extra.”

    Being able to say that statement is well worth any “lameness” or “cheezyness” or “annoyance” that youth group shirts involve.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      July 22, 2010 at 1:07 pm

      Wow, thinking theologically. More please.

      See, that’s reason enough to make me want to do a t-shirt now. But I’ve got to keep my streak going. Oh, the anguish.

      Reply
  5. Paul says

    July 22, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    Love it! I’ve done them, they are bad. I feel so dirty now.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      July 23, 2010 at 5:04 am

      It’s okay, I’ll still let you comment on my blog even though you’ve done t-shirts before.

      Reply
  6. Jim says

    July 22, 2010 at 9:29 pm

    It’s interesting to see so many young guys miss the point. If you go to a concert with your kids (for a band they love), odds are they will buy an over-priced t-shirt. It says “something cool happened here and I want to remember it.” Sure, the band makes extra money on the shirt, but they also use them build loyalty in their fans and to reach out to new ones. When a student wears that t-shirt to school, he or she is making a series of powerful identity statements: “I am proud of where I have been,” “This is what I like,” and “You can ask me about this group.” Why are we not as wise as the world when it comes to building community in a youth group and supporting identity formation with our teens?

    Now, lots of shirts are horrible and they can be over-used. I doubt I would get a generic “youth group” shirt; too much like a uniform for working at Wendy’s. But when the church, the parents, the youth workers, and I have significantly invested in the kind of ministry event or activity that we hope brings about life change, a t-shirt is a low-cost way to extend in both individual and group memory. Just because you’ve done without them doesn’t mean you (and your students) aren’t missing something.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      July 23, 2010 at 5:03 am

      “Just because you’ve done without them doesn’t mean you (and your students) aren’t missing something.”

      I don’t believe that anything remotely related to the gospel is being hindered by a lack of t-shirts.

      As I said, if you want to do shirts, I don’t begrudge you. Done right, there’s no harm in it (I think). But I don’t buy the argument that they are vital to ministry and identity creation.

      Reply
      • Jim says

        July 23, 2010 at 8:02 am

        I don’t think they are vital (necessary for life), just valuable. But I am willing to learn, so what do you do to build a youth group identity? How do you reinforce the sense of belonging in tangible ways? What do you use as markers of significant experiences in the life of your group or individuals?

        Just for clarity, the tone of these questions is sincere, not argumentative. I study culture creation and want to know how you are doing these things in your youth group.

        Reply
      • Matt says

        July 23, 2010 at 9:18 am

        This will require a separate post… I’m heading out of town this weekend. I’ll likely have to respond next week.

        Reply
  7. Jon Snyder says

    February 3, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    haha, i must have missed this on your first posting. I have 2 christian t-shirts. the first is bright orange with a big hunk of cheese and says “they will know you are Christians by your cheesy t-shirts”.

    the second is the 4 little ponies of the apocalypse, based on a famous painting.

    Reply
    • Matt says

      February 3, 2011 at 12:10 pm

      Those are almost t-shirts worth wearing.

      Reply
  8. John says

    April 2, 2011 at 7:44 am

    5 years does not an expert make. I’ve read a few posts and a pattern is beginning to emerge. There are very few things that are prescriptive in youth ministry in the United States. We, as youth pastors, are cross-cultural missionaries who minister in a unique context. I am thrilled that the Lord has allowed you to have an understanding of your culture, but exercise caution when issuing ministry mandates.

    John
    Youth Pastor for 21 years
    Lover of Jesus, teenagers, and t-shirts (in that order)

    Reply
    • Matt says

      April 7, 2011 at 10:01 am

      Did you read my post?

      Reply
  9. Josh Decker says

    September 9, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    Hey Matt,

    I love what you’ve written. Funny, I ran across this while searching for a vendor for t-shirts.

    I have just started looking at T-shirts myself. I have come to this for a couple reasons. First, I am organizing a winter retreat for 250-300 students, and am planning to give students a shirt who come to the event (mostly because I had to make sure we covered costs for a smaller group, and we may have some extra money to put into the retreat).

    Secondly, and more importantly for my group, is that no matter how well known the dress code is for an event, I have students who come inappropriately dressed. This allows me to ensure at least the top half is decent. I wish I didn’t have to resort to this measure, but it’s been an issue on ever event…even after sending some students home because of it.

    I agree, though, that shirts for the sake of shirts isn’t a great idea. I love seeing what creativity and diversity students have in the way they dress, and would hate to put a “uniform” to our ministry.

    Keep up the great work fellow YP’s! Christ is coming again, and it’s important we keep on with what He’s called us to until we finally see Him.

    Reply
  10. Kaylee says

    January 31, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    hey look i attend an amzing youth group and my youth pastor asked me to design us a shirt. honestly, i feel priveledged. its not about making us someone, its just an outreach to others. unsaved can see our shirts and the scripture, ask a question, adn the door is open to share God’s word adn His love. I do not at all think there is a problem with these, but everyone has there own opinion 🙂 Im glad u were honest, but ill have to say i dont quite agree :/ please dont take it offense!

    Reply
    • Kaylee says

      January 31, 2012 at 6:53 pm

      But i do thank you for the fact that you dont think any less of those who do! and if it is something God has layed on your heart, stick to it… he’s never wrong!!

      Reply
  11. Jeremy says

    September 17, 2012 at 7:25 pm

    I see a lot of truth in this post along with a lot of ignorance. But it is 1 man’s opinion and I respect that. I am bias because t-shirts are my life, but my experience has built my paradigm.

    Plain and simple, t-shirts are the most popular media outlet in the US. We all own a dozen of them if not more. To not utilize this form of media would be a disgrace to your cause.

    Matt, what are the specifics of a t-shirt that makes you purchase one? Is it the design? The fit? The statement? The Color?

    Now the stipulation that youth group tees are cheesy has a lot of clout due to the hundreds of thousands of horrible examples. Youth Pastors have been butchering youth group t-shirts for too long. Throwing your logo on a shirt is not going to make the kids excited. The design has to be something that they would buy at the mall and the fit needs to be comfortable & modern. Not a big boxy tee that you would only wear to paint in.

    To say that t-shirts do not bring cohesion or identity is false in my eyes. People wear t-shirts because it supports their identity. The concert t-shirt started this movement. I’ve toured with every major Christian band and have seen the power of the t-shirt. My heart is for missions and non-profits, so I choose to wear t-shirts with the causes I believe in.

    Now t-shirts won’t save anyone, or solve the worlds problems, but they are channel to speak without words on the subject matter you believe in. I rather have a kid purchase a cool youth grout t-shirt with the funds going to help the ministry or missions goal, than for them to spend their money at the mall on an Abercrombie & Fitch shirt that promotes open sexuality with risqué marketing.

    With that said, I believe you are depriving your students and your ministry by purposefully not using t-shirts because you don’t see the benefit. Every youth kid wear’s t-shirts to school, so why not tap into the medium that can support your cause.

    God bless you for speaking yor mind and giving a forum for believers to sharpen one another.

    Reply

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