questions about the future of youth ministry
TRANSCRIPT
+
Questions about the FutureOf Youth Ministry
Welcome
+
Meet the Presenter
Tom Schwolert
Partner for First Third of Life Ministry & Coach
+
“Do you love me?” John 21:10-19
+
Years of questions…
+
What is youth ministry?
+
Is the current way we(you) are doing youth ministry effective?
+
What is effective youth ministry andhow do you know if it’s effective?
+
Are you hoping for a ripple effect?
+
Have we abandoned the ministry of Christ to satisfy our own needs?
+Have we stepped away from deep, faith-nurturing relationships and relied on the ministry of “bells and whistles?”
+
Have we walked away from generations of faith development learned from the core Biblical story?
+Has youth ministry become nothing more than a “product” to convince young people they need(consume)?
+
Have we neglected daily relational faith practices for a style of ministry that pushes so hard on getting people to participate in programs that we are burning out?
+
What are your questions?
+
Is there a better way?
+ What we know…
• Age group ministry matters but is not enough
• Intergenerational works
• Home works
• Online is a real place
+ What we know…
• Concept of “church” is always changing
• Context matters
• Deep, abiding, longterm, faith nurturing relationships are a key thread for faith formation
+ What we know…
• What would be some other things that you have learned?
+ A way forward…
• Do less program and more relationship• Meet with families• Interview youth• See people as faith vessels• Provide young people with
multiple relationships (of all ages)
+ A way forward…
• Get to know your context• Understand the reality of
people’s lives• What’s happening in the
community? Where do people spend their time, etc.?
+ A way forward…
• Ask hard questions about what you are currently doing.• How effective are the
activities I’m currently doing?
• What am I willing to let go of?
• How does our faith community view young people?
+ A way forward…
• Regularly look at the questions that Jesus asked for inspiration?• “What are you looking
for?”• “Do you love me?”• “Do you want to be
healed?”• “Who do you say that I
am?”
+Asking questions is dangerous.Questions lead us to transformational ministry.
+
Questions about the FutureOf Youth Ministry
Thank you!