I have read two blogs now that have directed me to be more reformed, or to support a reformed view of youth ministry. Working within the Christian Reformed Church, I am sure that this must be a big deal for me - however, could someone paint what that might look like? Reformed youth minsitry has to be more than working with YU or ordering curriculum from Faith Alive...doesn't it? Recently I am having conversations with my planning / advisory team who have identified one of the core focus points of our ministry should be to have a reformed perspective within our youth ministry. I asked them to define that, and it was like watching a large semi run over a small squarral. What is reformed Youth Ministry? How is it to be defined and then maybe it can be transfered to our students?
Fish...I was commissioned to go to the store to buy a small fish bowl with a couple of gold fish, likely to teach my kids about life (and death). I came back with a rather large salt water aquarium with aspirations of have the great barrier reef in our living room. It never really happened...and Mark's illustration seemed to resonate with my own youth ministry. It never really goes as planned. It might be good, things going well but I would be lying if I thought things always went as planned. Usually God tends to push things in a direction I wasn't even thinking about. So I am not sure if it matters about direction, about returning to the status quo or trying out something new - it likely will not go as planned, God will continue to work and do things that we never even thought about and we will likely evaluate our own plans for ministry, reevaluate and try again. By the way - I sold the fish tank and bought a dog! Maybe new directions are what is needed...
I wonder about "what" change? It seems to me that there is so much change is desired? talked about? needed? in almost every area of youth ministry - it is a little daunting. The perceived exodus of young adults have pushed most youth ministers to examine the programmatic way we have been doing youth ministry - change! Recently Mark DeVries in his article in Group Magazine has suggested that we need to change the "youth pastor" model in most North American Churches - change! Many churches continue to struggle with the rapid transitions often associated with youth pastors tenure in the local church - change! I don't think Ron is wrong - change is coming, always. The question I have is where to look for guidance when it comes "what" changes and "where" to change? As your illustration suggests - the change was a great one in the Netherlands / Costa Rica match. Did that change have intentionality to it or was the coach simply trying to "throw something at the wall" to see if it would stick? What if the Dutch lost? Would the change still be praised? Likely not. I think churches need to have the same type of "stones" as the Dutch coach - to take a chance, to risk criticism. Often the safe place of "normal or usual" shows up when the pressure is on. Youth Pastors & Directors need to take risk change within their own walls - which might bring the critics, but it might bring a win - you might look like a genius!
Posted in: Finding the Hippest, Coolest Resources and Ignoring Our Reformed Theology
I have read two blogs now that have directed me to be more reformed, or to support a reformed view of youth ministry. Working within the Christian Reformed Church, I am sure that this must be a big deal for me - however, could someone paint what that might look like? Reformed youth minsitry has to be more than working with YU or ordering curriculum from Faith Alive...doesn't it? Recently I am having conversations with my planning / advisory team who have identified one of the core focus points of our ministry should be to have a reformed perspective within our youth ministry. I asked them to define that, and it was like watching a large semi run over a small squarral. What is reformed Youth Ministry? How is it to be defined and then maybe it can be transfered to our students?
Posted in: Is the Current Changing?
Fish...I was commissioned to go to the store to buy a small fish bowl with a couple of gold fish, likely to teach my kids about life (and death). I came back with a rather large salt water aquarium with aspirations of have the great barrier reef in our living room. It never really happened...and Mark's illustration seemed to resonate with my own youth ministry. It never really goes as planned. It might be good, things going well but I would be lying if I thought things always went as planned. Usually God tends to push things in a direction I wasn't even thinking about. So I am not sure if it matters about direction, about returning to the status quo or trying out something new - it likely will not go as planned, God will continue to work and do things that we never even thought about and we will likely evaluate our own plans for ministry, reevaluate and try again. By the way - I sold the fish tank and bought a dog! Maybe new directions are what is needed...
Posted in: How Prepared Are We For Change?
I wonder about "what" change? It seems to me that there is so much change is desired? talked about? needed? in almost every area of youth ministry - it is a little daunting. The perceived exodus of young adults have pushed most youth ministers to examine the programmatic way we have been doing youth ministry - change! Recently Mark DeVries in his article in Group Magazine has suggested that we need to change the "youth pastor" model in most North American Churches - change! Many churches continue to struggle with the rapid transitions often associated with youth pastors tenure in the local church - change! I don't think Ron is wrong - change is coming, always. The question I have is where to look for guidance when it comes "what" changes and "where" to change? As your illustration suggests - the change was a great one in the Netherlands / Costa Rica match. Did that change have intentionality to it or was the coach simply trying to "throw something at the wall" to see if it would stick? What if the Dutch lost? Would the change still be praised? Likely not. I think churches need to have the same type of "stones" as the Dutch coach - to take a chance, to risk criticism. Often the safe place of "normal or usual" shows up when the pressure is on. Youth Pastors & Directors need to take risk change within their own walls - which might bring the critics, but it might bring a win - you might look like a genius!