Run Out # 05 Haunting Questions

I'm reading 'OMG Youth Ministry Handbook' and it does a good job of framing a way to think about the 'failure' of youth ministry over the last thirty years in western mainline denominations. There's much more to read but this part is suggesting that the models we've used have not delivered the hoped for results of young people shaping a mature Christian faith and that is true... many have BUT it's not a success story generationally.

Enculturation, community building and keeping young people busy with in-house activity has lots of positive outcomes but does not automatically lead to faith being 'caught' or 'tools' for shaping faith being passed on... It especially in my 'experience alone' does not necessarily prepare anyone for the 'stuff' that happens in life and how resilient faith survives such questioning.

The 'haunting questions' are questions about authenticity... they don't deny enthusiasm, commitment or longevity but point to the fact that we are [as colleague Duncan would put it] 'good at belonging' but passing on the 'tools' for young people to make meaning and explore faith for themselves is less effective... fire away with counter examples... they certainly exist BUT the evidence across the globe delivers low numbers.

One of the pitfalls is that a goal is still to get young people joining the Sunday gathering to pray and sing... this is instead of asking, 'what does Jesus look like 'where they are', how is grace or good news experienced and how can we bring that presence to the world we live in? It's not just about the club we retreat to... we don't need to train leaders to be like 'Bondi Rescue'... we need to form leaders to live out their faith in the world and to invite others on the same journey... right where they are!!

What practices will bring life to this?

How can we be people who bring grace, reconciliation, forgiveness and more... to all we meet!!

OMG picks up Andrew Root's ponderings about 'place sharing' and I'll continue to read and be inspired by the developing wisdom coming from the discipline of practical theology and some rigour brought to what for me are hunches and intuitive questions... Get a copy!!

Run Out # 04 'Hospitality'

Orange cordial and salmon sandwiches or pizza and coke? It doesn't matter, but what does is the spirit of generosity and genuine hospitality offered whenever young people encounter the local community of faith in the form of the local church... whether in a mission setting or on the property. [For the record, pizza and soft drinks or homemade soup and damper, a 'fair dinkum' BBQ or bring a plate feast are far better than orange cordial].

Hospitality includes: sense of welcome; the love of God; inclusiveness; access to resources; keys to the crockery; and a shelf in the fridge. [1] of my tests for whether a congregation is 'on board' in mission and ministry with young people, is whether the paid Youth Worker or voluntary Leader/s have a set of keys to the spaces they need to use... hospitality extends to respect and trust.

A few years ago I visited a rural NSW town where the Uniting Church had a difficult recent history exacerbating the universal challenge of connecting with young people.

One adult Leader who was a good networker and Scout Leader drew a crowd which on one occasion included some local homeless youth. On this night the boisterous game of soccer led to some ball marks on the wall and at the time of my visit the Church Council were holding out on a paint job for some sort of certainty the hall would remain in good condition. I have no idea if the painting has gone ahead but I am sure there are few if any young people meeting in the aptly titled "Youth Hall" [or that's what it's named on the brass sign in the foyer].

I understand the apprehension but you need to move past it and risk the rough and tumble signs of use that come with people traffic and hospitality. Make your expectations clear, but don't hold people to ransom and betray what you really value!! Hospitality is one key marker of SPACE, PERMISSION and VALIDITY!!

RUN OUT #04 Missional or Social Justice Activity

Every local context is different but here are some thought starters for a faith community of multi or any ages to engage with the community in helping to 'meet the hurts and hopes' of people in that community:
1. Healthy Breakfasts Schools Program
2. Covenanting or Reconciliation with local Indigenous Community
3. World Vision Poverty Village community partnership to highlight poverty issues but also promote connections
4. Participate in a community kitchen roster or meals program
5. Volunteer at a Community Garden
6. Choose an issue like 'Cash for containers' to advocate for and hold events
7. 'Flashmob' to highlight a cause
8. Write Amnesty International letters
9. Raise money for the 'Fred Hollows Foundation'
10. Organize experts to run skate workshops and eventually a comp at the the local skate park

'Its not rocket science'

RUN OUT #03 Not a Bad Place to Start

Check it out here

RUN OUT # 02 Activities

From the rarified air of a statewide role focused more on leadership development and 'big picture' ministry with young people... What would a great program of activities look like for high schoolers? Well first following on from RUN OUT #01 It might best be a series of events and activities rather than a single group program but these might make the list across a year... In no particular order:

Underpinnings:
- this is a community of faith focused on who God is calling them to be in this time and place
- young people are viewed ( if only by the leadership) as people, capable of shaping meaning, identity, faith and belonging
- programs or events are tools for the goal of being an inclusive faith community with hopes for all people and a better world
- 'resilience' is a hope for all young people the community encounters
- the group builds on an ethos not a mission plan and unrstands there are no maps for 21st C experiments in 'church'
- we seek to gather around people's affinities, authentically and with a focus on living in the world we live in
- I reserve the right to add to this list or change it as this is 'speed thinking'

Events/Programs/Ideas
1. Adventure Park activities as 'challenge by choice' including a picnic
2. Multi night at the property including (4) different activities with common supper e.g. Gaming, master chef, group building games, short films
3. 'Telling Stories' where people with a story to share are invited to do that in a familiar style e.g. Muso, coach, sport star, volunteer, activitist
4. Pastoral Small Groups Launch Pad. These groups might be offered in one format at a gathering but encouraged as an add on once a fortnight at another time\place as a mentored experience.... Straight after school or another best time
5. Movie Night with appropriate form of discussion
6. 'Life and Faith' is about gathering to focus discipleship activity augmented by a regular resource giving young people faith practices to do on their own... It might be one night, a launch weekend, or built into other program nights and has a noticeboard devoted to a multi-faceted one of participating
7. Social Action Teams. These are multi-aged teams around a small number of projects reflecting the community, context, skills, enthusiasm and connections of those involved. Choose a variety of activities and actively invite everyone to participate in something
8. Wider activity. Horizons are broadened and relationships and networks developed around road trips, hospitality and engaging in groups beyond your own... Anything really, that value adds to what you already have going
9. Scavenger Hunt. Whether modelled on 'The Amazing Race' or a video, audio or edgy version, well led groups scour the neighborhood or town for a set of compulsory and optional items/images etc...
10. Visits to places like Funeral Directors, local factories, museums bring great conversation
11. Park Picnic BBQ where the group of as much of the hospitality as possible
12. Drive In Movie. There are a handful around.... Line up the cars, bring a boom box and deck chairs, create a great story...
14. Healthy School Breakfasts programs need organizers and volunteers
15. Social Justice Action days, weeks and focused campaignsm, but not your own church version, partner with a community based local group and participate en masse
16. Laser Tag
17. Day Camps. Organize a variety of activities around the chosen affinities you offer at other times and run streamed activity onsite for Sat/Sun or weekday holiday Camps and add a variety of days across 4-5 days with expectation of entirely different crowds each day, no accommodation needs and travel organized around registrations for each activity or all based onsite
18. Movie making for different purposes... Fun, fractured parables, use in worship etc, maybe even a Short Film Entry
19. Tableau Activities where whatever is included, the groups rotate around at set times to experience a variety
20. Costume Night with Dinner.... Either you choose, tell different people different themes but set it up as a secret....
21. Nooma, TED Talks, or other 10-20 min video plus discussion over food
22. Leadership/ Team training.... Off this as part of your program for all comers, teaching life, faith and leading skills
23. Organize Fundraising for a cause 'beyond yourselves'
24. Volunteering. Together work out a cause or action to support e.g sandwich making for local volunteer graffiti removers
25. Include several activities voted 'yes' to by the group from a list of do-able options

OK more to follow later...

RUN OUT #01 What?

By the end of 2011 I will undertaking a new task in ministry/mission and at this stage I'm almost certain my role will not have an exclusive focus on young people... though it may be part of the mix! I will not be working in statewide youth ministry thinking, leadership training, events or resourcing!!

My 'call' and enthusiasm will always be for helping young people find identity, meaning, faith shaping and belonging and by it's nature, missional contextual stuff I find will have relevance there BUT I doubt there'll be headspace to summarise, encapsulate and continue to offer stuff with just that focus...

So today I begin a series of posts to do some 'thinking aloud', summarising and sharing about 'reculturing ministry with younger people' which will be an ongoing focus for me...

It's also a chance to share learnings and hunches, to demonstrate a consultant could still do a local gig and just maybe you'll read something you find helpful... it'll help me to write it either way... such is the nature of blogging...

#01 HIGH SCHOOLER FOCUSED YOUTH GROUP

This is an issue I'll get to explore in a workshop on the mid north coast in June as part of a look at the mission and ministry of two congregations...

There are a bagful of context questions to be asked and an understanding of leadership and other resources are needed BUT what I'm reflecting on here is more about the young people in our communities than a full expression of a youth ministry model.

Too much of what we do as 'church' is focused solely on our agenda and a 'rose coloured glasses' view of our rich history. It is no longer true in many communities, that "if you build it, they will come!"

Young people in the mainstream Aussie context are not so much into joining groups or institutions, choose 'culture of better offer' over programatic loyalty and are happy for the work 'to be done for them'... but there are motivators in evidence which parrallel the learnings of Mark Oestricher in 'Youth Ministry 3.0'

AFFINITY

AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS

SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTION

AFFINITY

Rather than maintaining or starting a regular homogenous 'Youth Group' [if other resources and the context line up] I'd work towards a series of activities or group projects connecting with the 'affinities' of the young people in our community e.g. gamers, adventure types, socialites, academics, joiners, geeks etc but also more nuanced than social labels.

The printed group program would promote those events and affinities rather than group identity and different things might attract different FB pages, egroups, forums or event pages in social media so people can find [1] set of details without having to 'buy in' to the whole group identity.

Relationship building is a plank of every happening and it grows 'belonging' not membership and enthusiasm not compulsion.

Sporadic or selective attendance are the 'norm' but the relationship building needs to affirm affinity, not punish absence...

AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS or what Andrew Root calls 'Unfiltered Relationships'

These are not fostered as a tool for evangelism or to create 'members' but are central because we are all created and loved by God and because 'every person has a story and everyone's story is worth hearing'. These can be fostered in small groups, mentoring, joint multi-aged projects and by promoting an ethos or values encompassing respect, valuing etc

SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTION

Young people's 'crap detectors' are highly attuned to hypocrisy [what a shame we're all guilty of falling short] but especially in the area of 'righteousness' and 'holier than thou' as the root of these words belongs in justice, right relationship and making ammends.

Rather than paying 'lip service' to the environment, poverty, ethical buying, consumerism etc we need an honest culture of trying to 'be the change we want to see in the world' and this lends itself perfectly to action projects 'thinking globally and acting locally' to engage young people in making someone else's life better or at least choosing this path to try...

This can enliven Bible Study and worship and you can unlock stories of the principles behind 'why' and 'who God calls us to be' and instead of just praying for the 'poor' you know their names...

Finally, these are not add ons, but require an overhaul and intentional change to what you already do or hope to establish... they are especially not just 'tools' for a narrow version of the gospel but are good news in and of themselves. They should not be formulated as a tick box exercise e.g. don't choose one surfwear company and one chocolate product to boycott and call that a holistic approach to living out the values of God... don't talk creation and then run camps and events dumping packaging, wasted food and endless party food packets into landfill because it's too hard to recycle with a group at a venue...