Last week I spent some time with a dear friend who leads a nearby College Campus Ministry. Some of our discussion focused on transitions to and from the college years. Here are two of the challenges:
Many youth ministries thrive because of fun and creativity. Often churches design their High School ministries around “winning” or “reaching” teens. But what are they won to? Teens find a place where they are accepted and loved and everything is done to affirm them and draw them in, but they are never challenged to DO anything with their faith. They are recipients of “ministry”.
In most Campus ministries, the staff is driven by a desire to be world changes and they don’t have time to “hold hands” or merely entertain students. When it comes to entertaining, they can’t compete with the options around campus so they call their students to leadership and impact, to being world-changers. All of the students who came from “fun” youth groups don’t have their expectations met in this new high-commitment setting and many drop out all together.
At the end of 4 (or 5 or 6) years these college graduates who were won by and deeply involved as leaders of collegiate ministry transition away from school and find that the adult ministry of most churches doesn’t provide many opportunities to be in front of the large group meeting or in charge of the Bible Study. These 20-somethings feel like their “leadership” isn’t recognized so their expectations aren’t met and they drop out. (until they have kids whom they want to be raised in the church and many come back).
A mature view of the body of Christ moves people to participation in the Body. It’s not about me being ministered to. It’s not about me being seen by others. It’s about being part of community where myself AND those around me are becoming like Christ in our thoughts, motives and behaviors.
One Youth Pastor suggested 5 steps that can be taken to move people from receiving felt-need ministry to being involved, empowered and having an “others” focus. Are any of these part of your small group or class?
5. Cultivate an atmosphere that allows your students to experiment.
4. Give away VITAL aspects of the ministry:
3. Challenge the ordinary:
2. Always give a measurement of growth:
1. Give them the license to FAIL:
MondayMorningInsight.com > 5 ways to effectively EMPOWER students
I am in the dark regarding the points made and what they mean.
ReplyDelete5. Cultivate an atmosphere that allows your students to experiment.
Experiment at what? teaching? group evangelism? doing things that would reveal gifts they may posess?
4. Give away VITAL aspects of the ministry:
What? allowing others to teach? allowing others to minister to one another by leading prayer? what?
3. Challenge the ordinary:
Challenge where they are currently at spiritually to coming up higher? what does this mean to challenge the ordinary?
2. Always give a measurement of growth:
What? ongoing personal evaluation between you and each group member? what does this mean?
1. Give them the license to FAIL:
I understand this one.....and we truly do need more grace with one another in the body of Christ.
Is it possible that there could be time given within the youth group to helping them realize what the transitions will be like as they leave that group?
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that there could be time given within the college age group to prepare them for what church life will be like for them once they leave that group?
If they are so groomed for leadership or teaching and they cannot find a place within the local body of believers.....why not start a house church or a parachurch ministry? It isn't like there isn't enough need within the world we live in to not be able to do something outside the four walls of "church".
Click on the link at the end of the original post and it will take you to the post where I got these 5.
ReplyDeletethanks for referring to the link for the fuller article. I read the article that described the 5 points more indepth and I agree wholeheartidly!!
ReplyDeleteTo implement this in a church (allowing youth to serve within youth group and outside of it) will mean changes in the mindset of church leadership as well.
Most times I have witnessed youth serving in the larger church setting it has been in playing a musical instrument during praise and worship time on Sunday morning. What about the youth that isn't musically inclined?
Also, to quote one of our former pastors - everything rises and falls on leadership.
There are many churches that employ a "youth pastor" because they see in him an ability to relate well to the youth and being "fun". There needs to be more than that in the one they call to lead a youth ministry. Jesus spoke to his disciples a lot about His crucifixion and later going to heaven in order to prepare His disciples for what was to come. A good youth minister will do the same with the flock that is entrusted to his care.
Here's a novel idea.....if the "after college" age group is feeling that they need to be in some sort of leadership capacity - why not in leadership in the youth group to help prepare these kids for after youth group? Why not begin a college age bible study or help the local church better minister to that age group? Why would God pour so much in the way of training in leadership and to be "world changers" all for naught? Do these kids come out of college age ministry being able to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to their hearts and leading and guiding them or don't they?
I also think all the five points are definately do-able in a small group as well and should be implemented by small group leaders - who in my mind are called by God to shepherd that particular group. Leading and guiding and empowering are key.
ReplyDelete