Missional Youth Ministry Ideas

Lots of ideas floating around for me this half year about 'mission' and ministry with young people... where my 'working definition' of mission is action we take to help with the hurts and hopes [the fundamental human needs] of those where we live!! It's about contributing to healthy community where we can and stopping negative influences we're known for as well.
My posts will be 'out loud' thinking, undeveloped ideas and glimpses [what's new] as I work through to a paper or a more considered resource.
So your in on the ground floor of my usual process i.e. I usually write any article, paper or resource over and over as new and deeper thoughts crop up... kind of like my minimum three week preaching prep cycle!!

Aim:
To effectively engage in God's mission in the world where you live and particularly in relation to connections with younger people

Goals:
To share the 'good news' of God's love and grace with all who'll 'hear it' and some who won't
To share the truth and impact of how God has been active in my life and world while discovering how God has been active in their life and world before I came along
Helping to create a world lived according to the values of God [joining the dance, hoping to get my song in tune with the rythmn of God etc etc]
Taking seriously the communal nature of faith, these goals and life as it is
Helping young people find: identity; meaning; belonging; and faith shaping
Hope

Mission Possibilities:
These need to be tested for contextual and cultural relevance wher you are
These are subject to the resources, gifts, collaborations and passions at hand

Background Resources:
Exemplar Youth Ministry Study http://exemplarym.com/
Which explores the characteristics of mature Christian faith pointing to shaping tasks, experiences and relationships making that possible
Search Institute Assets/Tools http://www.search-institute.org/assets/
Any writing by Pete Ward from the UK
"Threshold of the Future" Mike Ridell
"Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling" Andy Crouch
It is not enough to condemn culture. Nor is it sufficient merely to critique culture or to copy culture. Most of the time, we just consume culture. But the only way to change culture is to create culture.

Cultural and Contextual driving forces:
Multigenerational activity
Cross Cultural activity
Communion or deep community connections
Affinity or networked interest groups

Possibilities:
1. Schools healthy breakfast programs
2. Federal Government School Chaplains Program
3. Joining local community action and social justice groups rather than starting a 'church version'
4. Work parties and social justice action exposures or full on programs including mentoring
5. Balanced programs or groups which include age and context appropriate faith explorations using 21st C resources
6. Conneect with and enact advice from 'Project Green Church'
7. Learn about and support Fairtrade/Fairwear
8. Offer mentors for local school programs
9. Engage in sporting team comps/coaching
10. Support someone running for local Council
11. Homework Centre at the church property
12. Contribute to community centres/drop in centres
13. Run Camps aimed at all young people in your community BUT around AFFINITY with particular activities
14. The HSC: Study Camps; Care Packs; Tutoring; Retreats; Exam volunteers; community venue based worship marking points on the journey
15. Run an Easter or other Camp through an existing community event
16. Regular community BBQ
17. Boys version of a Men's Shed [open to girls also]
18. "Living the Questions" reworked for young people and run on Alpha style with meal
19. No 'one size fits all' children's or youth ministry, rather activities around 'affinity' with links to sensitive faith exploration possibilities in other layers of activity
20. Creative, contemplative and experimental worship experiences [special efforts]

OK, there's 20 to begin with...