"A New Kind of Youth Ministry" Chapter One

'Reculturing Evangelism: From Carnivals and Bridges to Sharing the Journey"

In this first chapter Chris Folmsbee's main point is a questioning of 'event based' evangelism. In programs it doesn't really model how to live out and share your faith except in further events. It really relies on 'someone else' doing the work.There are questions about how you measure success.

This has often led people to shift focus to 'friendship evangelism' which can also have an impact. Often labelled as 'bridge building,' Folmsbee conetnds the issue there is the imagery of conencting two points which otherwise coudn't. It doesn't allow space for God to move and for authentic relationships to be a basis for sharing.

What Folmsbee calls 'life dynamic evangelism' is really just young people seeking to be part of God's mission and activity in the world, not seeing people as 'them' and 'us' and living honestly committed to God.

It means being: inclusive; active; honest and humble; and joining others on the journey. This is about living out your faith, not just special events.

AND more specifically in the aussie context:

a. young people needing to see how faith connects to life

b. teaching faith practices [portable faith] not relyig on 'high' moments

c. rediscovering faith language that makes sense

d. remembering young people don't know the 'story' and need help to see how it fits together

e. faith needs to be experienced in community and rediscovered through relationships for their own sake and not so as to exert 'influence' [see 'Unfiltered Relationships' Andrew Root]

f. Balance your agenda with a learner centred sensibility

g. answer questions people are actually asking

h. by all means share 'Jesus' but in actions and words

i. look for where God is already active in the world and join in...

and so on...