youth ministry events as faith formation – part three processing events and connecting to daily...
TRANSCRIPT
Youth Ministry Events as Faith Formation – Part Three
Processing Events and Connecting to Daily Life
Practice DiscipleshipSpring 2012 Training
Youth believe in God! Yay! So…now what?Let’s deconstruct MTD in the lives of youth and
challenge youth to experience Jesus Christ through authentic relationships and experiences that are rooted in sound theology and practices.
In Session One, we talked about the:Purpose of Events
In Session Two, we talked about how you:Prepare your Group for an event
Did you miss a trainings? Watch past sessions online at www.elcaymnet.org/ELCATrainingOverview
A Quick Review…
Session Three(What you are hearing today!)
We will talk about
how we help
groups
experience the
work of the Holy
Spirit in the midst
of an event, and
how to connect
that event to their
daily lives…and
maybe even share
it with others!
Events are
opportunities
for young
people to
disengage from
the world
around them so
they can fix
their eyes on
Jesus Christ.
Out of our
comfort zone,
we can see the
world and
ourselves from
Christ’s point of
view rather
than our own.
Hand-Holdingand
Finger-Pointing
Spiritual direction often is considered one of the practices of communion, since the ultimate objective is not to offer moral instruction or pastoral care. The goal of spiritual direction is reaching toward oneness with God by discerning God’s direction for our daily lives.”
-Godbearing Life, pp. 139-140
Hand-holding is ministry of
presence…
Finger-pointing is ministry of
direction.
Photo by Sam Mugraby, Photos8.org
Photo by Sam Mugraby, Photos8.org
Participation is ACTIVE
Experience the event fully
Observe what’s going on with the youth
Translate your experience into a story to share
Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening)
Participation is GENUINE
Expect to be transformed yourself
Be who you are
Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening)
Participation is COMPLICATED
This isn’t just a vacation, you know!
Full participation is hard work!
Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening)
Listening is ACTIVE
Listen with your ears
Listen with your eyes
Listen with your body
Respond with clarifying questions
Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening)
Listening is GENUINE
Listen because you care
Be open to the questions youth ask
Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening)
Listening is a DISCIPLINE
Part of listening well is hearing what is said
Part of listening well is “hearing” what is NOT said!
Listening is focusing on the speaker
Listening is hard work!
Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening)
Ask good questions
Make observations
Point to Jesus
Finger-Pointing(Giving Direction)
?Photo by Sam Mugraby, Photos8.org
W = WhereH = HobbiesE = EventA = Acquaintances
T = Travel
“WHEAT” It!
The first person ASKS questions and LISTENS
The second person RESPONDSThe third person OBSERVES
Allow each person to rotate through the various roles.
Give the group members 5 minutes for each role.
Listening and Questioning Practice
Connecting Events and Experiences to Daily Life
“The entire
congregation makes
a difference in youth
ministry.” (p.
83, EYM)
“Of parents who report
that their faith is
extremely important in
their daily lives; only
8% of those parents’
teens report that faith
is not very or not
important in their
lives.” (p. 171, EYM)
Set goals for how your events can be transforming.
What kind of goals would you have for a weekly Bible study?
What kind of goals would you have for a summer trip?
Connecting Events to Daily Life
How will you communicate with parents about what was experienced?
You can never communicate in enough ways!
Involve the parents in your event somehow
Create activities for families to do together that support or extend the goal of your event
Connecting Events to Daily Life
How will you share your events with the congregation?
WorshipWritten communicationVisual images around the churchInvolve congregational members in eventsCongregational mentors/prayer partners
Connecting Events to Daily Life
How will you intentionally share your event experiences with youth who could not attend?
Storytelling with purposeGroup buildingCommunicate while goneInvolve other youth, parents and congregation
in planning
Connecting Events to Daily Life
Managing Your Group During Events
Some of these
tips will apply to
trips only, some
will apply to local
events as well.
“When did we
ever get the crazy
idea that to make
children do better
, first you have to
make them feel
worse?”
-Jane Nelsen
Cell Phones
Will you allow them?
How will you monitor their use?
What is the church’s liability?
Managing Your Group
Transportation
How big is the group and how will this affect the type of transportation you choose?
How will you separate groups into vehicles?Will you/can you use transportation time as group
building time?How will you get back to vehicles?Who will drive?
What are your safety concerns?How much baggage can youth bring?
Managing Your Group
Lodging
Where will you (and other adults) sleep?
What are the overall sleeping arrangements?
Safe haven/risk management policies
Managing Your Group
Food
How many meals?
Where do you plan to eat?
Will you give food money allowances or pay as a group?
Managing Your Group
Group Management
Small Groups with designated leadersCovenant issuesHow many sponsors do you take?Come prepared with “back-up”Make a ministry opportunityKeeping track of your group
Managing Your Group
Wow!!! Now you’re ready to go!!!