Friday, April 07, 2006

youth ministry values

3 posts in one day is pretty hard core for me, but i have been away and had a lot i wanted to put up so here is the third instalment:

I've been doing some thinking on how our values influence our understanding and practice of youth ministry, so to keep myself in check I have spent some time thinking about what values I minister from. I rooted them into a proverb, a scripture and a story.

"It takes a village to raise a child" – African Proverb
Young people in the church community are the responsibility not just of parents and paid staff but the whole church
Relationality – see above.
Particiaption - place to serve – ownership – responsibility
Positive image of young people – antidote to media stereotypes

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Being a call to come and walk with me, learn with me and you will discover the truth.
Therefore youth ministry should be about:
Journeying.
Seeking.
Exploring.
Questioning.
Finding.
Guiding
Challenge
Adolescene is a stage – therefore cannot be separated from the life journey – but nor can it be ignored – it is probably the most formative in developing Christian character and a desire for a relationship with Jesus

The Explorer: The explorer returned to his people, who were eager to know about the Amazon. But how could he ever put into words the feelings that flooded his heart when he saw exotic flowers and heard the night-sounds of the forest; when he sensed the danger of wild beasts or paddled his canoe over treacherous rapids?
He said, "Go and find out for your selves." To guide them he drew a map of the river. They pounced on the map. They framed it in their town hall. They made copies of it for themselves. And all who had a copy considered themselves experts on the river, for did they not know it's every turn and bend, how broad it was and how deep, where the rapids were and where the falls were?
from "The Song Of The Bird" by Anthony de Mello, SJ

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