RE THINK: Youth Ministry – Part 3

(This is the message/lecture given to a youth gathering in Dagupan City called JAM School (Jesus and My School) last June 13, 2010 at Gospel of Christ Fellowship Worship Center.  I’ll divide this in three parts and hopefully churches and youth ministry may find this as something they can think about.  I’ve also added some links that may be helpful.)

7.  COLLABORATE

I love this word.  It simply means to work together.  There are only a few collaboration that is happening nowadays. This is largely due to the pastors.  Like I said if your pastor is not into it, you would have difficulty launching the youth ministry.  And that’s a problem with us; there is really not enough collaboration.  And if we do, I want you to look at this carefully, we collaborate primarily for us and not for the people we want to reach.

We all know no one church can reach a City.  Each church here in Dagupan City has a unique personality and gifts that if they simply work together we can create an impact here in Dagupan City.  The same goes with our youth.  The point is we really do need to work together.  And I don’t know how long we can keep up working by ourselves.

Some of the youth in some churches cannot afford to create an event because of lack of budget.  Some church just don’t have a leader in their midst.  What if we can form a youth ministry that cross churches?  I mean what if the youth pastor in one church is also the youth pastor of the other church.  What if the youth of another church uses the facility of another church?  What if we combine resources to genuinely reach the city?  What if we have a day of community service?

We just need to clarify our metrics.  We’re willing to collaborate with any church who believes that the church is about reaching the people outside.  I hope we can do community service more than fellowship.  Community service has a better reach than fellowship.

RETHINK: What collaborative efforts have we done in our ministries?   Am I willing to extend a hand of help for others?

8.  USE EVERY TOOL AVAILABLE

Many Christian don’t realize this but the church is filled with tools they can use for their ministry.  One is their space.  Every church has a space they can use.  Would it be possible for your church to be converted into a student center?  Or into a movie house?  How about a coffee bar?

Actually there’s one tool that is on the rise right now and you should take advantage of.  That tool is the internet.  Almost all church has a youth that knows the internet well.  I think most of you here if not all of you has a FB or FS account.  But I guess not all are familiar with blog sites?  I guess we only have a few and they are part of our team.  Blogs are a tool that you should consider adding to your ministry.  It’s not for the youth only but also for the church in general.

Blogs are good way to tell story. You can evangelize using the blogs.  You can reach more people using blogs.  It is new among the churches right now, but I suggest you put yourself on a head start if you truly believe God is going to expand your ministry.

This will be this October 2010. We'll post the other details soon.

Our church doesn’t have a website.  But we have 7 members who have their own website.  4 of them are blogging intensively on the net.  What we have discovered is that there is an online community willing to hear your story.  If you have great ministry stories, write it down so many can read it and be inspired.

RETHINK: What do we have in the church that we can use to reach people for Christ?

9.  THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX

All of us would agree that youth ministry exists to spread the gospel of Christ, and really not to babysit the Christians.  Although for some that’s the way it happens.  But most of us have been doing the same thing for years.  Youth ministry activities are limited to fellowship, teaching kids, outing, sports, and eating.  And if you observe this carefully 70-90% of the church activities and that includes the youth is really for them.  That’s why you have to think of other things.  If you think not more about reaching other people for God, what would be those events?

If you want to reach people outside of the church, think of something that would appeal to them rather create a Christian event where you want non-Christians to go.

RETHINK: What other activities should I try to reach more people?

10.  STEP OUT INTO FAITH

What I have just said to you are not easy things. You need to ponder upon them very carefully.  Are you in for the long haul or just short term?  These are hard things, but the moment you do it, believe that this is what God wants you to do.  Great things are happening in our church because we explored and tried to do church differently.  You’ll never know unless you try.

RETHINK: Does my faith lead me to try new things?

See Related Blog Posts:

RE THINK: Youth Ministry – Part 1

RE THINK: Youth Ministry – Part 2