As part of the think tank I'm at right now, I'm re-reading some of the entries I made here back in 2004 (like this one which is part of a report done in response to a study.
The study showed of 3000+ youth that the Greater Vancouver YFC connected with during a one year period, less than 2% are still meaningfully connected with a community of faith one year later. Why?
These articles were interesting to skim too .... HERE and HERE
Here are some of the notes made about changes needed in current youth ministry structure (re-creating parallel, fresh expressions of the church rooted in the midst of youth culture is also being discussed and explored):
- community and consistent leadership throughout age groups is key, rather than handing students off to "adult church" when they enter college ....
- relying less on events and programming as the center of youth ministry, as it sets the table for robots who need to be told what to do in the church, turning their brains off. Rather, taking initiative to follow the "wind of the Spirit" and the "dreams of God" is a key practise that we must teach / equip students and even children with ...
- using the term "missional" more than evangelism when talking about youth ministry so that the church (read "adults") release us to work with "different looking / sounding" kids who, more and more, make up the bulk of the students out there ...
I'm off to Calgary later today to meet with Andy and Paul about Boiler Rooms and then I get home late tonight - yipeeee!
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