What About Our “Shiny, Happy People”?

Season two of the Prime docuseries “Shiny Happy People” just hit the streaming platform and for those who grew up as a teenager or a youth minister in the late 1990s and early-2000s there is much in this season that resonates. For those not familiar with “Shiny Happy People,” it is a television docuseries that focuses on popular Christian and evangelical movements, families, and stories. The series has become the most-watched docuseries to date for Prime Video.[1]

Season one focused on the Duggar family, known for the reality show “19 Kids and Counting” and their adherence to fundamental Baptist doctrine and teachings of Bill Gothard through his Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP). The show highlights controversies associated with IBLP and within the Duggar family with testimony from family members.

A Teenage Holy War

Season two, subtitled “A Teenage Holy War” swings the pendulum to the charismatic, youth-oriented movement of Teen Mania. Teen Mania was founded by Ron Luce who became a celebrity in the evangelical youth ministry movement of the day. Teen Mania, Acquire the Fire, Global Expeditions, Honor Academy, Extreme Camps, School of Worship, and the Battle Cry Campaign were all part of the organization founded by Luce, either as events, conferences, themes, or separate ministries. Luce and his ministry were non-denominational and while many from different churches participated, the doctrinal leanings of Luce and leadership were more charismatic and Pentecostal in nature. Luce joined forces with other Christian leaders of the day such as James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Ted Haggard, Pat Robertson, Chuck Colson, Joyce Meyer, Kay Arthur, Josh McDowell, John Maxwell and others through a coalition of conservative Christian ministries.  

As I watched the first episode of the three-part docuseries, I saw familiar faces. I heard snippets of messages from conferences that were not different from what was preached at our Baptist camps, conferences, and events. The lights, smoke machine, loud music, and all that was highlighted certainly looked much like many events we attended. I was encouraged to see that all those working the cameras, lights, and production elements at these events were students. I still believe that student ministry should involve students doing the work of the ministry with adults helping and not just be adults doing ministry for students.

Too Much

As the series played on, there were also some things that made think, “Oh, yeah. That’s a bridge too far.” The Honor Academy and pseudo-Navy Seal bootcamp for teenagers as they prepared for spiritual warfare was a bit much. The way the docuseries shares how Teen Mania used the Columbine tragedy for ministry impact was insensitive at best. Yet, it’s easy to critique another’s ministry from decades back.

After viewing I thought about youth ministry in our churches from 25-30 years back. Maybe we were too entertainment-focused and always trying to outdo the “world” with our creativity, too? Perhaps we are still enticed by that at times. Worshiptainment (a made-up word combining worship and entertainment) became a thing, and we are still working through that. Whether it be creating a series of sermons based on popular movies, using popular music as a draw, or even giving away gifts to the “lucky” attender (confession time: I have done all these things in the past to some degree) the shallowness of ministry grows under a false application of “being all things to all people.” The regulative principle of worship was shelved for years and just now some are revisiting it.

I look back at those days and thank God for the work he did in the students I had the privilege to know as well as the work he did in me. The early 2000s mini-Jesus Movement was real. Students were impacted by the Gospel. There were lives truly changed for God’s glory in that era and now many of that generation’s children are impacted well.

Exvangelicals and the Deconstructed

There are those who do not look back at this era fondly. As I hear their stories, I am grieved. Many of these men and women now wrestle greatly with their faith (by their own admission.) Most claim to be spiritual. Some say they are still Christian, and yet define themselves as exvangelicals (ex-evangelical). Some identify as deconstructed Christians.

The docuseries is well-produced. The testimonials and stories are put together well. Author and former pastor Joshua Harris is featured. Harris, though not affiliated with Teen Mania is well-known for his best-seller I Kissed Dating Goodbye. He has since renounced his books and the church’s emphasis on purity culture. He now considers himself a seeker, rather than a Christian.[2] Harris is featured as a famous exvangelical.

Evaluating Teen Mania Is Not the Point

A docuseries featuring people outside my theological lane, who are looking back 20-30 years explaining why everything they experienced was bad, wrong, traumatic, and painful is…interesting. Their experience and pain is real. I do not discount that. Their stories create buzz. It generates ratings and honestly, it is worth viewing. I think.

I think it is valuable viewing not because I have anything invested in Teen Mania or that I know any of the people personally featured. It is valuable because as I look back at the hundreds of teenagers who were part of our church’s ministry over the past few decades, I wonder how many would categorize their stories similarly.

I know many look back with fondness and great joy.

I also know some do not. Some even now as adults feel abandoned by the church. They may have been active in youth ministry, but as adults walked away. I’m sure there are some as in every generation who simply attended because of the social connections and family requirements, but never truly surrendered to Christ. Thus, “they went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2:19) That is not a shot. It’s just truth.

Personalities are a draw as well. God creates personalities and thus, there really aren’t bad personalities, just ones that do not resonate well with others. Clearly some students did not resonate with me or other pastors and leaders. I am certain my style of teaching rubbed some the wrong way. I know I hurt some feelings (and despite what I say, I do care.) Where some needed compassion, I was lax. Where others needed time, I did not have it to give. When some questioned their faith, my answers did not suffice. Some saw me as off-putting.

I know this is true because…well, some have told me. I know I have not always hit the bullseye in ministry. No pastor (or youth minister) does.

Thus, in some way, every church I know could have a docuseries created highlighting all the ways that they have messed up in the past. I am not calling for that. I don’t think we need that on demand option.

I seek to be more patient, more caring, more understanding, and clearer in sharing biblical truth in love. The gospel does not change, and the truth is not negotiable. Of this, I am certain.

Hindsight is 20/20. I know there are certain things I would do differently in ministry if it were possible to go back. But I cannot. No one can. As I look in that rearview mirror for a moment. I grieve for those who are deconstructing their faith in Christ for whatever reasoning. I grieve that so many seem to be looking back not with joy and smiles, but with tears and trauma. I know the Enemy’s strategy is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) and he seemingly is succeeding with some.

Yet, I know that God offers hope, life, a way, and the truth. Event-centered ministry will eventually go bankrupt. When all the lights come on, the busses leave, the amps are unplugged, and the rally cry of emotion dies down, what is left? When the trappings of worshiptainment drop down and no longer seem to work (if they ever really did), Jesus remains exactly where he has always been.

That is our focus, for adults, children, and teenagers today. I look at the students in our youth ministry now and wonder often “Are they listening? Are they getting it? Do they know Jesus?” I realize that the steadfast teaching of the good news of Jesus Christ, believed fully by the teacher/preacher, and biblical, God-centered, agape love modeled by Christians will be used by God to draw people to himself as it always has been.

God is not focused on creating an army of “shiny, happy people” but a family comprised of formerly broken, empty, messed up people now redeemed by the blood of Christ, for his glory…and our good. I pray we are intentionally seeking the same as a church.
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[1] Shepherd, Josh. “‘Shiny Happy People’ Season 2: ‘A Teenage Holy War’ to Focus on Ron Luce’s Teen Mania.” Religion Unplugged, Religion Unplugged, 8 July 2025, religionunplugged.com/news/shiny-happy-people-season-2-a-teenage-holy-war-to-focus-on-ron-luces-teen-mania.

[2] Harris, Joshua. “A Statement on I Kissed Dating Goodbye.” Joshua Harris, joshharris.com/a-statement-on/. Accessed 29 July 2025.