what is your mission?
i did a training meeting last night for a group of small group leaders (what would the collective term be? answers on a postcard...) i based my training on a chapter from 'starting right' (yep i'm still banging on about it)
the chapter, written by kara eckman powell, (you'd never guess she was american) seeks to discover what youth ministry focussed through community would look like. first off she explains that the word paul uses for church, ecclesia is better translated as assembly typically a small group that gathered in people's front rooms (go on sudworth, get some greek into your blog!) she goes on to ask what the main purpose of the ecclesia should be, 'in alliance with paul's doctrine' she writes 'the mission for every youth group is equally clear: to see lives changed by Christ change the world. The mission of a youth group is not to grow bigger, to have fun, or to welcome others... The primary purpose for gathering is so people will walk out a little, or a lot, different than when they walked in' (starting right, p.203)
the reason that i was so taken with that statement is that i know there are others in my proffession who would see that as a side issue, missiology is very much second to good statutory youth work - and for me that is what differentiates between youth work and youth ministry. the two jobs are completely different because youth ministry has the above as it's mission. granted a youth worker is still involved in the work of salvation, but surely it's different? i've a horrible feeling that i'm talking myself round to another way of thinking... perhaps jnc training - when applied to the christian context could be a rally call to mission... um... i'll get back to this one...
i'd love to know what others see as their primary goal or mission in youth ministry, is kara right or wrong? should i adopt the above as my mission statement, or have i missed the point?
have i mentioned that starting right is a really good book? no? can't remember!
the chapter, written by kara eckman powell, (you'd never guess she was american) seeks to discover what youth ministry focussed through community would look like. first off she explains that the word paul uses for church, ecclesia is better translated as assembly typically a small group that gathered in people's front rooms (go on sudworth, get some greek into your blog!) she goes on to ask what the main purpose of the ecclesia should be, 'in alliance with paul's doctrine' she writes 'the mission for every youth group is equally clear: to see lives changed by Christ change the world. The mission of a youth group is not to grow bigger, to have fun, or to welcome others... The primary purpose for gathering is so people will walk out a little, or a lot, different than when they walked in' (starting right, p.203)
the reason that i was so taken with that statement is that i know there are others in my proffession who would see that as a side issue, missiology is very much second to good statutory youth work - and for me that is what differentiates between youth work and youth ministry. the two jobs are completely different because youth ministry has the above as it's mission. granted a youth worker is still involved in the work of salvation, but surely it's different? i've a horrible feeling that i'm talking myself round to another way of thinking... perhaps jnc training - when applied to the christian context could be a rally call to mission... um... i'll get back to this one...
i'd love to know what others see as their primary goal or mission in youth ministry, is kara right or wrong? should i adopt the above as my mission statement, or have i missed the point?
have i mentioned that starting right is a really good book? no? can't remember!
posted by Pete Maidment at
8:32 am
3 Comments:
Nice - I'll have to dig out my copy and re-read that chapter now! I'm (almost)convinced that we've weakened youth ministry by worrying too much about youth work. But I could be wrong...
By
Pete Lev, at 9:55 am
We're looking at making our youth WORK in High Wycombe more youth MINISTRY. The town centre church youthworkers are all feeling that we do BIG impressive EVENTS but not actually ministry. We're thinking of focussing on the basics:
Personal Devotion
Fellowship of Faith
Witness
Kinda radical!
SO wishing I hadn't leant my copy of Starting Right to Kathryn - I wann look stuff up. Probably best though as I have LOADS to do for the Triduum right now (get some Latin in your blog!! ;oP )
By
Sarah Brush, at 12:22 pm
This is a great posting.
The church is currently struggling to pick up from an evangelical past that was more about a cosy club than a life-changing culture. I think this has gone on for so long that even the language and understanding of mission has been eroded.
Youth ministry and youth work don't sit so well together. They use each other. Youth Ministry seeks recognition from youth work - why?? Youth work principles can be used in ministry... but they so often become more than a just process.
I have always believed that youth ministry works... it is just very difficult to measure in the short term. Although if you look back over the years you can definitely see where there has been growth and decline. Is the current state of the church, lacking people in their 30's, the rise in Alpha initiatives for "returners" a sign of the impact of poor ministry among young people 20 years ago?
Will the increase in youth specialisms in the church over the last decade make a difference? Perhaps when we lose the success-driven nature of this world we will truly know.
"We are called to be fruitful - not successful, not productive, not accomplished. Success comes from strength, stress, and human effort. Fruitfulness comes from vulnerability and the admission of our own weakness.Henri Nouwen
By
Ben Mizen, at 12:37 pm
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