getting braver

it's a funny job this, being a diocesan youth and children's officer, especially for someone like me who doesn't really feel like he has much to offer. i've had a series of meetings with churches recently looking at appointing youth workers or initiating some kind of youth ministry provision. i've been banging on about theology coming first in the youth ministry field, and now i'm suddenly having to follow through.

the challenge comes that i'm going to churches that are expecting me to give them a framework for appointing a youth worker, or the first 5 steps to opening a youth group, and instead i won't let them get any further than 'so what is the point of doing youth work?'

i've started to leave churches with the challenge of answering this question; 'i believe that the church should get involved with youth/children's minstry because God...'


i'm itching to hear some answers, if only because i'm not sure if it's the right question or not! i'm confident that it will get people to think theologically without realising they are doing it... i think... hmmm...