Insight

Serving others - more food for thought

You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. John Bunyan

Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can. John Wesley

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one. Mother Teresa

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' Martin Luther King, Jr.

God has given us two hands - one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding, we are channels made for sharing. Billy Graham

The future of youth ministry - learning to serve!

In a previous post 'The future of youth ministry-consumers or servants', I asked if one of the major changes we face as youth leaders today is to orientate our young people away from a consumer mentality (which some argue has gripped the western church) to an attitude of service. Moving from spectators only, to participants in demonstrating Christ's compassion for the world, bringing Good News to those who have never heard it and engaging in sacrificial service because that's what the Lord Jesus would want from us.

Isn't one of the marks of a deepening faith, a servant heart? A desire to do good in the name of Jesus? A passion to reach others with a life transforming Gospel?

'For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.' Ephesians 2:10

The Body of Christ - a themed youth night of icebreakers, games and talk!

Exploring what it means to be part of the church and to play our part in the 'body of Christ.' To complete the icebreakers and games the young people need to co-operate with each other and work as a team.

BODY WALK

Draw two chalk lines on the floor about 10 metres apart. Divide the young people into teams of four. The object of the game is for each team to cross from one line to the other with only the correct number of limbs or body parts touching the floor. Begin with easy combinations, gradually becoming more complicated: 6 feet only, 5 feet and 2 elbows, 5 feet and 1 hand, 4 feet and 3 hands, 2 feet and 4 hands, 3 feet and 1 nose etc. You can make it as easy or difficult as you like. Have 6-10 different combinations. This game is about working together as a team. You might like to have a camera ready - you have to see this to believe it! Remember to ask the girls to wear jeans for the evening.

The future of youth ministry - consumers or servants?

After a break from blogging over the Christmas and New Year, I'm back with weekly thoughts and reflections on youth ministry and youth resource ideas.

I've been reading a number of comments and observations recently about the future of youth ministry. At least as it applies to the western nations of Europe and the USA. That distinction is important, for I believe if we took the time to look, we could learn a lot from the vitality, mission and discipleship experiences of our brothers and sisters in Latin America, Africa, Central Asia and elsewhere.

I came across a challenging post from Joe recently and it has prompted me to make a small and hesitant contribution to the discussion. I like Joe's honesty. He says, 'I know God has called me here for a purpose and a reason. That reason is to love kids and point them towards the Kingdom. (But) I am tired of doing the same old stuff. Why? IT ISN'T WORKING!!'

Some commentators question if current youth ministry practices have reached a dead-end. Others say youth ministry is terminally 'broken' and a few wonder if churches even need a youth group any longer. Brian has posted a thoughtful reflection on this here.

So is youth ministry really 'broken'? Are our youth programmes redundant? Is it what we do that's wrong? Or is it that our focus is wrong?