this post is stemmed off of tim's recent post on parents and youth ministry. i don't know if will go the same direction, but i want to uplift that sharing as critical to this one.
a few weeks ago had one of those big parents meeting for our youth ministry. running through the programming and events of the next eight months. it was a good meeting. i lead off with a devotional, and i was kinda struggling to come up with something. so this is what i shared as our devotional time.
in thinking about what to share as a devotional erin asked me, what is the goal of the youth ministry? to that i shoved it off saying, "well isn't that a loaded question." knowing i needed to answer the question i came back to it. the foundation of the youth ministry of the church, should reflect that the church is a place that is safe. so that when youth and young adults begin to question their faith, wish to dive further in theological understandings, take on new spiritual practices. they know that the church has people that are there to welcome them, listen to them, usher them to places to find what it is they seek, mentor them, teach, worship, prayer with them. for at those moments in the education world we call 'a teachable moment.' that is the goal. i we can do just that, then we will be a successful youth ministry. erin responded "that is a good goal." (i love my wife, so affirming when she needs to me)
so i read this story from the desert fathers & mothers
Another brother asked the elder Abbot Theodore, and began to question him and to inquire about things which he had never yet put into practice himself. The elder said to him: As yet you have not found a ship, and you have not put your baggage aboard, and you have not started to cross the sea: can you talk as if you had already arrived in that city to which you planned to go? When you have put into practice the thing you are talking about, then speak from knowledge of the thing itself!
so i unpacked this with our parents. too often parents, adults, young adults do not want to get involved in leadership/teaching/sharing/reflection of their faith because they do not feel worthy of talking about what they do not know. apparently Abbot Theodore agrees with you. however, this is when it is critical of sharing what you do know. you come to church why? because in some way you were instilled in the foundation that the church is a safe place to come to help live out your faith. you crossed the sea of bringing your presence to the church. share why that is important to you so that your youth will can understand what it is that you speak of. this experience you know.
the doctrine, theology, bible races, etc are all seas you can cross in time. but for the sake of your youth. it is not important the 'what' things you want them (and yourself) to know but that you chose to become part of a community of faith in Jesus and your presence here says more than anything else about who you are and what you wish to be.
the youth want to know there is a safe place for them out there. come and help us share our journey's across the sea and why we are present in this place we call church. this we know, we can share it.
we closed with this prayer for young people from the BCP.
God our Father, you see our children growing up in an unsteady and confusing world: Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as a chance for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you and to keep alive their joy in your creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
