'Devozine' Website

Faith practices and themes that connect with teenagers are central to the simple and underrated resource 'Devozine'!! It now has a website presence here and it puts basic discipleship exploration directly in young people's hands and could extend into group day or weekend camps...
The magazine has North American and Aussie writers with daily explorations and developed themes on weekends that all engage young people in a small colour magazine style which is available in Oz through Mediacom here

'BIG' Games Book

   Just some reruns for local Hunter Leaders who may have missed it!!
If you don't yet have a copy of 'The BIG Games Book' it can be yours for just $20!!
Built on a variety of collections it includes: icebreakers; group builders; wide games; competitive and cooperation activities aplenty!! Makes it easier to 'get on with' relationship building, discipleship and other aims alongside a variety of fun staple activities!!

Human Foosball

   There are loads of activities you may only be able to afford once a year or as a contribution to a local Fete but they can add a spark to an otherwise standaryouth event or program. 'Human Foosball' is just one option alongside: horizontal bungy, barfly, Sumo, Boxing etc.
   Planet Entertainment is just one provider here in NSW whose catalogue I receive but there are other companies with similar array or options.
Warning: one colleague has reminded to be careful in referring to an 'adult' jumping castle and clarify that I mean a normal jumping castle rated so adults can safely use it rather than a questionable inflatable shape more akin to the Hell's Angels Annual Picnic or Summernats in Canberra!!

Unreliable Ideas # ?? "Billy Cart Derby"

   I have been holding off on a series of activity suggestions for youth ministry and mission until I decide whether to switch to my new blog space...
BUT I can wait no longer to suggest in 2013...
The Cessnock Lions Club "Billy Cart Derby" or your local equivalent [which might mean you organise it for your local community.
   I say 2013 because today's 'Australia Day' festivities have been cancelled due to the wet weather we are currently experiencing. Check it out here and build you cart according to the rules outlined on the entry form. Service Clubs and emergency services join groups, families and individuals...
   Don't set yourself to join in for the next ten years [these ideas are best as a short term thing as groups roll over and move on to another fun alternative and revisit later...

 

St Jude's Uniting Church

   Mark Senter III wrote work leading to 'The Coming Revolution in Youth Ministry and it's Radical Impact on the Church' and released the book at the start of the 1990s. I recall mentor Fuzz Kitto showing me a typed copy and suggested I read some of the manuscript on the couch with a good coffee!!  
   To this day I remember that I didn't fully grasp what I was reading but somehow knew that it was important and would one day speak precisely into a context I did understand.
   Coupled with 'Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church' I believe Senter's work has 'arrived' in terms of our current challenges. But more than that the very titles of the books teach me an important lesson. You see I've been talking about them a lot [I'm not one for including subtitles] but not using the full name. '...And It's Radical Impact on the Church' and '...and the Church' don't shift my understanding of the key points very much but they do make sure the focus is on the community of God's people that is currently commonly represented by a local group or congregation. They are key to the future of mission and ministry with young people. This is true whether they are shaped for mission or for getting out of the way of God's action in the world. What I mean is that whatever Senter's wisdom in these books they reflect on how the church engages in or will be effected by the very issues he's raising

Why do I think his work is now more relevant than ever?

   Because of a little hypothetical Uniting Church known as St Jude's. St Jude's could be a small rural church or a high density urban street corner or a large suburban centre or a neighbourhood group in a building too old or too large for their purposes... The congregation or main Sunday worshipping community aren't getting any younger. They as a group represent only a small slice of the culture/s, backgrounds, educational achievements and history of those in their wider community.
   At St Jude's there are a few under 60s but a huge gap between 25 and 45. There precious few youth or young adults if any alongside the remnant of a small infants and primary aged Sunday School with one volunteer teacher engaging with kids right across the spectrum.
   The older members are concerned about the lack of young people and especially the High School drop off rate. Who will we be without the youth? How can we have young people here again? Should we hire a Youth Ministry Worker?
   This is a common scenario and connects strongly with one of the 'Four Views' explored by Senter and called the 'Preparatory' model. Say what you like but the majority of ministry with young people I've seen over the last thirty years is subtly or strongly aimed at preparing the young people to 'be' the church... to take up where they leave off... BUT the global context of these young people has so radically shifted in the last 40 years that the models of church most encounter are simply contextually irrelevant.
   I don't blame the churches. The context has changed rapidly and radically and the generations who've left mean there are few change role models and we are still trying to share faith, foster discipleship and unpack the good news as it was taught to us...
   We need to totally re-orient the church for engaging in God's mission in the world. We need to develop our ethos and values and live those out in the everyday and shape our life by what God is doing. The goal is not church engagement but discipleship or 'following.' So growing faith to maturity is an additional measure alongside attendance.
   We need to develop skills in appreciative inquiry or at least 'listening' skills to understand the perspective of 'the other' not just our own narrowly expressed goal of 'saving people.' If a congregation is truly able to connect with a few areas where they believe God is active in their community then questions of numbers at worship and money through the offering will in time be irrelevant.
   But one key ingredient in this is leadership. People with contextual skills are used to asking questions, adaptation and experimenting with ideas. What if our view of 'church' was that we exist to serve? Or the very radical idea that we exist to create other communities of faith and so initiate our connected groups to 'plant' missional churches elsewhere. They learn the skills from earlier but apply them to a new community. Even one step shy by engaging young people in activity with which they share an affinity and direct social justice action... we could change St Jude's forever... more soon... what are the practicalities...

Space, Permission and Validity

   A new initiative, new form of church or a missional contextual ministry with young people rely on the interplay of [3] things if they are to have any chance. While we live in a western post modern, post church environment with all it's related challenges, there is an opportunity to join the missio dei [God's mission in the world].

  Outward focused, spirit inspired, gift harnessing creativity will always allow people to come up with amazing ministry with young people BUT unless the existing 'church' makes room for this it is always a bigger challenge than it needs to be.

   Space, permission and validity are all needed to give things the best chance of meeting 'the hurts and hopes' of people in your community. 

SPACE includes facilities [and the keys or access] but also attention, support, resources and awareness

PERMISSION means genuine approval to 'be' without 'gate keeping' and unhelpful constraints

VALIDITY is taking something seriously and understanding it as creating new forms of 'church'

   New initiatives or contextual missional activities are often fragile, fringe or experimental ideas. It can be a contest of ideas around 'what is the gospel?', focus, share of attention and 'open or closed set' thinking. That's all great jargon but it means we are not always good at allowing experiments.

   Young people often encounter low or no expectations and are not taken seriously in faith shaping and discipleship. Faith communities can be afraid for the future or guilty of seeing young people as 'the church of tomorrow.' Sometimes SPACE is clearly not free and complaints about how it's left or padlocks on cupboards make that clear. PERMISSION can be conditional on meeting generational or committee expectations. Lots of things are barely tolerated and what we do know is that leaders and young people have good 'antennae' for sensing whether or not they are included.

   St Laurence, Reading is the best example I've seen of all these things being evident just from entering their building and hearing their story. It's not about the billions of pounds spent but the space, permission and validity given to their mission. The same could be done with a flat screen TV, a coat of paint and a set of keys.

SPACE, PERMISSION & VALIDITY can facilitate:

- Healthy School Breakfast Programs

- Computer Game Parties

- Homework Centre

- Social Justice Club

- Holiday Clubs for Kids

- Missional Contextual Worship

- Leadership Programs

- Hall Games

- Sports Comps

- Skaters

- Bible Study Groups

- Day Camping

- Theme Nights

- Big Screen Movies

- alt.worship
- Art, Craft & Photography

"Meaningful Soles" Installation

Do you have or know of someone with a story to tell and a pair shoes they could give or lend to the cause of creating an art/installation/space made up of the shoes and people's stories on paper, with a backing track and a purpose designed space so people can come and circualte and engage with the stories.

The aim is for people to share their values, what's made them who they are or what shapes who they'd like to be... people of any faith or none!!

The space will be used at events and Festivals where young people and others gather and with 'at risk' youth to help them think about life and issues they face!!

The shoes will not end up on ebay...

I have sent almost 200 hundreds letters to people 'cold' when I've heard their story, found a contact or know who they are in the world of sport, movies, celebrity, politics...

I have shoes from:

Matthew Hayden cricketer

Dave Andrews writer/community builder/activist

Lisa Gorman telling her own journey

Geoff Smith and that sense of call/vocation

Who said "great idea but no"

Natasha Stott Despoja

Peter Garrett

Tim Flannery

Who said nothing:

Bono

Nelson Mandela

Nicole Kidman

I am now chasing Matt Noffs [Street University] and Juan Mann 'The Free Hugs Guy' [who said he was keen] BUT what's your story and who do you know that has one worth sharing... get them in touch with me.... I can talk postage, lending donation etc etc...

DO IT NOW!!!!!!!

Can you help out???

robhanks@bigpond.net.au

'Kondoot' about to go viral globally

' Come up with a simple idea of how people everywhere can access and add content to the world wide web and set up a website user friendly interface and you could make your fortune and satisfy your creative bent all at once!!'

The Aussie boys behind 'Kondoot' have come up with a website where you can upload and ''broadcast' live and saved video footage for all to see...

Imagine your club, group or friends producing a weekly TV show styled video, sports reports, presentations etc and loading them up onto Kondoot. It's more than youtube/vimeo, different to Facebook and Twitter [yet linkable].

I could do a weekly sports report, youth work resource clip etc and load it onto youtube but Kondoot opens up different ways of sharing, including live...

Looks really interesting but uses flash so I'm still not sure if it was my net connection or my Mac which had a problem but my desktop PC worked well with it's netcam!!

'Space, Permission and Validity'

Ministry and mission with young people [and new forms of church or contextual missional experiments] are given 'oxygen' and the chance to grow when they are given SPACE, PERMISSION and VALIDITY. This thought struck at least one peer this week at our 'Messy Ministry Context' Inservice this week at Nth Parramatta!! Graham suggested I submit a guest post to 'More Than Dodgeball' and I may yet do that... but in my current tired state I'll try a 'rewind' with a wordy reminder to help me sharpen my thoughts...

These three elements became clear to me in the lead up and during my 2008 participation in our Youth Unit 'Greenbelt Festival/UK Fresh Expressions' trip. It was true of a number of 'new experimental faith communities' including some exemplary ministry with young people. Many learnings on that trip echoed the same needs for youth ministry.

SPACE

Any group, event, program or activity involving 'gathering' needs dedicated space in which to happen... not a damp room the size of a box, not the locked crockery cupboard or anywhere you need to borrow keys to access. Shared use is fine if it's marked by generosity, resourcing and a willingness to 'live and let live'.

PERMISSION

With space comes the need for permission to 'be' and to use it. Is it easier to seek 'forgiveness' than permission... it's often said BUT is it true?

Your using the hall, but is it a hassle? Are you always 'copping grief' for tidyness, the power bill, leaving things alone, the 'special' cups or tension over scheduling...

Alternatively, permission means respect, genuine access and shared enthusiasm for your use of the space. You have keys, alarm codes and space to store what you need. Permission is about genuine ACCESS to SPACE.

VALIDITY

Without this the other two are only ideas!! If ministry with young people is genuinely embraced and valued then equal partners will thrive in a shared space. If on the other hand, even space and permission are given begrudgingly and withdrawn at every opportunity... if what's happening is viewed as not 'real' ministry, then lack of being seen as valid will limit the long term possibilities!!

My EXAMPLE is St Laurence, Reading. A regional review, hierarchy and finance were crucial in allowing a heritage church with 9 parishioners to be transformed through the catalyst of a Minister and a Young Adult mission team. Over ten years later its a reinvigorated all age congregation in mission and ministry with young people, building a new form of church and impacting it's local community and the world.

BUT it's not about the millions of pounds as the key factors have still been space, permission & validity. Any congregation willing to dedicate some hall space and a bbq, finance/training/promotion/website and who see what's happening as their call and mission... could do likewise with a coat of paint and an LCD TV...

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!!

School Chaplains> Ethics Classes It's all Happening!!

As our societal shifts and changes continue to hurtle the Christian church in Australia towards the status of another 'helping institution' which continues to shrink [according to it's own main game] there are a few consequent challenges which require careful responses, not just 'kneejerk' protest.

1. School Chaplains

In NSW [apart from private schools] it's by and large true that remunerated Chaplains have only become a presence in our schools since the Howard government initiative to offer $20,000 per funded position. Some 'Youth Workers' practiced 'Godly loitering' or other lunchtime connections to build links [others for years helped run ISCH groups or Christian Fellowships] but essentially this is a new thing.

It was a political move around a set of values and a political landscape where conservatives were seeking signs of commitment to Christian values from our pollies.

On the whole, if a Chaplain offers pastoral support, any effort to improve the lot of our school kids is a good thing. When 'some' groups have crossed a line and inevitably seen this as an evangelical opportunity [or a space for more controversial views] you have a conflict. This conflict adds fuel to the fire that is an upcoming High Court action to rule the practice unconstitutional.

Federal Labor has taken the policy position that by and large the project has shown benefits so 'why rock the boat'... this is an interesting part of the mix!!

I wish the charter/rules for Chaplains were more broadly agreed and adhered to... and that if we were serious the roles would be full time... allowing the development of student welfare structures, missional meeting of hurts and hopes by mobilised churches and positive press for real value in those learning communities which represent the last great gathering space of the aussie population.

I for one would grab such a role and certainly encouraged churches with part time Youth Workers to consider $20,000 extra funding and hours that built on their existing efforts through relationship and authentic connections, not sheep stealing!! Alas the idiots always spoil it for the rest!!

2. The NSW State legislation allowing for religious instruction 'should churches wish to take it up' creates a second live issue. The practice here is that if classes or seminars are offered then the alternative open to parents is for their kids to do 'other non productive activity.' The St james Ethics Centre and other partners have developed and trialled and now offer an 'Ethics' course for students and it is being offered at that time.

The church's problem is that many demand the 'right' to teach scripture or believe the very fabric of our society will rupture if it doesn't happen BUT a not necessarily small band of willing volunteers are hamstrung by others with little or no educational skills, again abusing the privilege or at best boring students with poor methods [never could spell pedagogy].

My problem is I would like effective discipleship education to be happening but don't believe in our inalienable right to have it and especially bemoan bad teaching!!

I love the example of an effective Youth Worker whose SRE is so creative and engaging that a neighbouring school have asked them to consider being their 'Ethics' teacher. It so happens the other school has a tight group who handle the SRE there and so this is a non confronting way to be 'present' at both schools and grow connections for what does happen at the local congregation, but through appropriate relationship building not a concerted effort to draw a crowd.

Summary:

1. I think School Chaplains can be a good thing BUT it must be done authentically and ethically as focused on student pastoral care and engagement in God's mission in the world

2. School SRE should be provided by skilled and resourced volunteers and not poorly by keen amateurs. I also believe God is BIG enough to withstand the withdrawal of a right to teach in favour of a desire to do so... I especially think any content needs an overhaul and people need to understand their goal and the 21st C ways of getting there... e.g. not jug and mug info transfer but contextually relevant storytelling and meaning making...

It's not just about delivering content and 'saving souls' but could be an effective part of any church's engagement if it's backed up by genuine involvement.

When it comes to Chaplains and SRE are we so committed to inclusion of young people in God's mission or are we afraid of who we are without them?

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!!

Winter Camp Day Four was a Big Day

With the Open Mic and Trivia Quiz Night behind us we spent a long day getting to and fro Sydney by bus to engage in some first hand mission and justice action. Groups visited: Wayside Chapel for a Tour and to help out and meet participants; Paddington Uniting Church Soup Kitchen to meet recipients; World Vision to participate in their 'story' spaces with various young peoples lives ipod guided; and finally a guided urban walk compared to Westfield Centrepoint and finishing with the '52 Suburbs' photos at Museum of Sydney. We made it back by 6pm-ish for a 7pm party dinner to mark the 'last' Youth Unit Camp and to talk about the new future for such events!! It was snow themed party dinner and dance party or bonfire chat!! Campers were and had been great, the day worked brilliantly and gave experience of what it might take to 'Act Up' and how they have it pretty good and there's a world out there which needs them!!

Winter Camp Day Three

So last night we survived: a brilliant roast dinner; the campfire and/or movie "How to Train Your Dragon"!! This morning it's cold and overcast but hasn't prevented archery and vertical challenge after our whole group gathering this morning.
We reflected on blessings, excuses and motivation for Acting Up' where after the band led communal singing we were invited to list at least nine ways we felt blessed and compared this to the Matthew 5 Beatitudes and us...
The clip 'Kiwi' encouraged us to have a go... And Bradon spoke about letting go of excuses and the story of the rich young person and anther we can give up our stuff to be a blessing to others. Can we be not just 'not bad' but be good, can we be surprising rather than just 'not disappointing'... We listed excuses as we listened/watched 'What I've Done' by Linkin Park and these excuses were noted and then burnt in the drum fire to wipe the slate clean and start over...
'Lost Generation' started our thinking about who we might be and the young blokes final answer to the question What's your greatest fear? Was left to inspire us beyond this wee, beyond tomorrow's excursion to Sydney and into next week and our everyday lives...

We finished with the brilliantly inspiring clip 'Pray for You' as we headed off to morning tea... Interestingly we were reminded that when the rich young person asked 'how do I enter into heaven?' Jesus redirected his answers to offer, how you enter into life and how you can act towards being all you can be... Clever bloke!! And also inviting what our focus and priorities should be...

Clips to follow soon...

Winter Camp Day Two Whole Group Gathering

As Curator of Day Two here's the outline of what we did!!

1. Communal Singing

Counter cultural but still an expression of who we are as a community and what we might be called to stand for

2. Worship Words was a brief seven voice intro

ONE: Listen everyone as we are invited to be aware that God is with us

We are asked to take the time to listen, to reflect, to see and hear

TWO: This will be a time of hearing stories and asking how they impact us

This is not a concert, it's not a play or a party, this is us giving God time

THREE: Don't be afraid of silence,

don't be worried about what everyone else is doing

FOUR: God asks us to 'do justice', to 'love God'

and to walk with humility, getting to know God

FIVE: What footsteps will you take from here?

How will this time change your outlook?

SIX: It's OK to wrestle with God,

To not be sure, to wonder what it's all about

SEVEN: Act up and make the world a better place

'May it be so'

3. PRAYER Activity

We were invited to 'something' on a card to communicate with God

and to think and write while we listened to/watched

"Every Teardrop is a Waterfall" Coldplay

4. 50 PEOPLE ONE QUESTION edited clip

"What's one regret you have?"

Brilliant video series

Then Group discussion in 2/3s around what you hope you don't later regret and a hope you have...

5. VEGEMITE ADVERT "Darwin Ice Hockey Club"

6. BIBLE STORY

Chris and Brad present Bible story/s and unpack the choosing of Saul

7. SIX STORIES

Six people: with 'stations including descriptions, photos and props

Anh Do, Jonty Bush, Kylie Sambo, David Pocock, Tjandamarra O'Shane, Jelly Ellie

With simple questions to discuss at the 'station' of your choice....

8. “YOUNG PEOPLE” Input on young people and the theme, acknowledging 'stories in the group, not just on the walls, plus issuing call to 'follow' Jesus and what that might look like as a hope, act up, story...

At some point introducing a clip from “Good Will Hunting”

With title slide, language advisory and then CLIP

9. ‘FOOTPRINTS’ Introduced at end of talk is an opportunity to reflect on and write down questions/next steps on paper footprints and stick them on the wall amongst the prayers

PLAY “Revolutionary Road” JBT while people think and write..

10. SENT TO NEXT THING WITH SMALL GROUPS/ACTIVITY MIX EXPLAINED

Clips to be uploaded when I have bandwidth!!

Winter Camp Half of Day One and start of Day Two

"Acting Up" is our camp theme this year as we borrow the good ideas from the Harris brothers and their book "Do Hard Things"!! It's about the alledgedly and usually low expectations of young people and the challenge to rise above this relatively new concept of being a teenager. We've borrowed from Andrew Root in talking about the early 1900s description of young people as being in a constant state of 'storming' and 'stress' or in summary CRAZY... we've challenged that and asked... what steps will you take to 'act up'? It was 8 degrees most of ysterday, dropping to 4 late at night with a wind chill of maybe 4 or 5 degrees less...

Last night saw Nintendo Wii, cards, get to know you mixing and catching up with friends. This morning we were together as a whole group ahead of the mix of small groups and adventure activities in turn which will also happen after lunch. The activities today are mountain bikes and flying fox!!

WHOLE GROUP WORSHIP/INPUT outline to follow...

Leadership Training at Leigh Memorial UCA

About 20-30 punters will gather tomorrow for a brief leadership training time plus flection and fine food! I'm following up a Junior Lead Training from our Synod Kids Campout earlier in the year.... On this occasion, we'll 'break the ice' through pretending we're all aboard a Space Shuttle flight to the International Space Station when it malfunctions and we're stranded awaiting Russian rescue... In the meantime groups will brainstorm a list of (10) agreed items on a list of things they'd gather from the shuttle and luggage to aid their survival... it's actually about how leadership emerges, who listens, moderates or takes a lead... And the ensuing reflection and discussion...
We will then talk about leaders we can identify and what makes them a leader... Followed by a series of team building and team challenging activities... Hip slap, tarp rescue, trust walk and the like... If there was time we'd view 11 mins of film montage looking for different depictions of leadership in movies and we will round off with a list of ideas for beginning 'leaders' to work on...
- get and give information, watching verbals and non, taking an interest
- seek to understand group needs and character
- look to discover and use the resources of the group
- 'controlling the group' pace set, observe, instruct, counsel, inspect, react
- set the example.... Not perfection, but authenticity, integrity, seeking to earn respect
- represent, be accurate in understanding group needs, beliefs, questions
- plan, seeking better quality decision making and living out your values
- evaluate, the often missed step in learning and growing as a leader and as groups
- share leadership, balance the task and group life through the inevitable and necessary advantage of collaboration
- be a manager of learning, not a manager of teaching... Meaning making is shared and rich....

We'll round off with a reflection on the invitation to be transformed by joining the community of god's people seeking to join God's mission in the world.... Through the 'get in the car' scene from the first 'Transformers' movie and a fractured version of the story of Zachaeus where it ends with Zack not taking up the challenge.... And seeing if anyone notices....

'Unfiltered Youth Ministry" # 02 Andrew Root in Canberra

It was a great weekend last weekend, exploring the writings and presentations of Andrew Root, at the Chapel of the Centre for Christianity & Culture in Canberra!! It was a weekend of mixed feelings for me... I welcome learning and really enjoy the gymnastics of figuring out how something affirms or challenges my views, teaches me something new and/or relates to my understanding of God, practice of ministry and or who I am... The fractures, apathy or missed opportunities in our networks makes this a rare occasion and that's a shame. Darren, Duncan and Matt are to be congratulated for pulling it together...
As I had written before, Andrew's re-emphasis on authentic relationships for their own sake, drew me back to my beginnings and the things I hold dear... more recently expressed as the notion that 'every person has a story and every persons story is worth hearing.' The Day Two focus on 'children of divorce' was something we were privileged to be participating in... deep sharing and a dose of reality around an issue that has nothing whatsoever to do with the 'naval gazing' of a church struggling for survival and all the ridiculous distractions this provides... Instead it highlighted what a significant thing 'engaging in God's activity in the world' is when our desire to share compassion and grace with others coincides with a burning need and while feeling 'at home' in the conversations I am convinced of it's wider relevance and my ability to 'transition' my gifts/skills/knowledge/self into a different setting, bringing the same 'above and beyond' energy!!
Alongside this, the girls came with me for the weekend, enjoying Cockington Green, a six hour visit to Questacon and the National Space Museum/NASA. I skipped Saturday night for a family dinner in Manuka and so we enjoyed the space and time together. I'll get them to the National Museum eventually.
Trying to sort out my future before or after December this year, I found myself fitting what we were talking about 'like a glove' but unable to picture where or how it will be applied.

It brought an edge to the fact I know I'm entering a time of change and the very real possibility of needing to find employment elsewhere... while I jest about the door greeter role at Bunnings [stay tuned]
I cannot commit my hopes, frustration, anger, willingnesses and recent reminders that the church does not get 'youth ministry' as anything other than playing in the sandpit, to cyber space because it comes without context or conversation...
Anyhow... it's that conundrum...

Every so often the 'wheel turns' in this crazy flawed thing called the church... and you're reminded of how vulnerable you, you're self image and your passions are... amidst mixed messages and very human fallibility... while those you know and trust happily re-affirm you!!
I've been re-reading Andrew's book 'Unfiltered Relationships' and was reminded of a film clip which fitted the weekends themes really well. It's the story of teacher Erin Gruwell as told in 'Freedom Writers.' Erin sets an assignment but notes one student who is struggling with setbacks as his brother receives a jail [US film/US spelling] sentence and he has given himself an 'F' in the self assessment task. Erin invited the students to fill in journals which she offered to read to learn about their stories and he had written about feeling 'invisible.'

"I see you... do you hear me, I see you... and you are not failing!!"

'Unfiltered Youth Ministry' Weekend Workshop

Had a great weekend in Canberra listening to and talking with Andrew Root from the US (who is fully aware of his surname in an Aussie context) with a bunch of energetic Youth Workers from various backgrounds. Andrew writes and advocates for stuff that takes me back to my beginnings and reinforces the reasons I'm a Youth Worker and what I try to focus on in stories, place sharing and relationship building for it's own sake!! It was great to be affirmed while tired from the struggle with those who see it so differently!!
More in coming days BUT it was a great time at a time when I am otherwise struggling with and wrestling with my own future and broader contexts for ministry and mission wher I would remain an advocate for those on the edges and whose voices are not heard...

"A New Culture of Learning"

For a couple of years I have been trying to track down the name of a guest on ABC Radio 702 'Conversation Hour' [now known as 'Conversations'] who worked in Schools in western Sydney. My memory of the dialogue was not so much about schools and education but the framework he advocated for learner centred education and creating spaces for engagement. I particularly recalled talk of designing and redesigning schools, refurbing foyers, atriums and libraries as inviting learning spaces...

I had trawled the podcast list but was 'looking for a needle in a haystack' and just this week stumbled on the right one which while labelled with a topic sentence, didn't step out and hit me, previously... I'm talking about Greg Whitby and I've re-engaged with his podcast and am even more sure that his contextual skills and insights have direct relationship to the task of faith formation, discipleship and engagement with young people. Greg would be a great resource for thinking about what kind of environment you'd want to create for ministry and mission with young people where you are!!

For ministry, mission and indeed discipleship to grow I am convinced there needs to be 'space', permission and validity... Greg speaks to all [3] in a school education setting and I believe would be an excellent catalyst to our conversations.

To this end I was pursuing him to come and share his insights with a bunch of Youth Workers in August... we have since hatched a slightly different plan, just as I've found Greg... now I'm thinking how else this might work...

In the meantime his website included a post about a book which I thought could similarly speak to our discipleship task... many Christian books are caught up in where they sit on the theological spectrum more than the idea they are attempting to address and this one would lead to a process of asking how it informs or challenges your existing ideas or something new you hope to hatch... you can then bring your own biases onboard!!

It's called "A New Culture of Learning" by Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown and you can read more here or Greg's post here

To mark this theme I have just downloaded the book via the Kindle Store to my iPad!!