Is It On The Test? (Early Version)

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Originally published in April 1993

“It’s not that you (Baby Boomers) didn’t love us; you loved us so much you pushed us to follow your idea of what you were-or would like to have been—instead of teaching us to be responsible. After legitimizing youthful rebellion you never let us have our own innocence—perhaps because Vietnam and Watergate shattered yours. That’s why we’re already mature enough to understand and worry about racism, the environment, abortion, the homeless, nuclear policy. But we also were fed on the video culture you created to idealize your own irresponsible days of youth. Your slim and trip MTV bimbos, fleshy beer commercials, and racy TV shows presented adolescence as a time only for fun and sex. Why should we be expected to work at learning anything?”

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Some Insights Into Community Experiences

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A lot of effort gets expended to develop youth group community.  The theory is good which is why effort is expended.  When individuals of different ages, different schools, different backgrounds gather together to learn about the same God in the same youth group, community makes that experience go so much further.  We all have memories of such experiences in our own Christian faith walk, whether it was on a retreat or a Chrysalis weekend or a small group Bible study or an extended season in a youth group.  

There are two universal truths about community experiences: they come whether planned or unplanned and they come to an end no matter what you plan. 

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A Culture of Noise--Or Not

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You know we are a culture of noise when you try to enforce the rule on your weekend retreat of no outside music.  Teens always balk at it.  You have to continually confiscate all sorts of electronic devices that earphone music into their heads.  These days you even have to look for the jackets and sunglasses that have electronic noise makers wired in.

Then there is the issue of cell phones.  Do you ban them at group meetings?  Do you accept them with rules?  Round and round you can go with that issue.

Oh the quagmire technology has brought us!

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The Power of Stories to Heal Spiritual Attachment Disorder

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An attachment disorder loosely defined is a psychological condition that starts in early development. A baby is completely dependent on a caregiver to fulfill the basic needs of food, comfort and safety. Nurturing fulfillment promotes optimal development and facilitates a secure attachment relationship between the caregiver and the child.  However, maltreatment such as abuse or neglect may compromise development and cause social, cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems as the child grows. This creates the condition called attachment disorder. Basically the child has never experienced the kind of love that perseveres through joy and sorrow.

We all have suffered from some sort of attachment disorder in our relationship with our Father God.  We don't understand His love. We don't trust His grace. We don't accept His touch. We forget about His compassion. We act out and then slowly realize that it's still safe to come home.  It takes us a while to realize the kind of love that perseveres through joy and sorrow.

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Erring on the Side of Challenge

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My local newspaper ran an AP story about the use of dodgeball in churches. To quote the author, “Christian youth leaders in (city deleted) consider dodgeball more than just a game.  For them, it’s also a way to bring together teens from different denominations--and most importantly--bring Jesus Christ to young people who are seldom in church.”  The article was titled “Dodgeball--The Latest Trend in Church Outreach.”  Are you kidding me?  What about dodgeball says Jesus Christ?

One youth pastor who was interviewed said, “It’s a good recruiting tool.  It’s easier to get them to something like that than Bible studies.”  Another youth pastor said, “You have to be creative and do things that intrigue them.”  Another youth pastor said, “Me, personally, when kids are new, I don’t want to hit them up right over the head talking about God.” 

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Teaching a Biblical Worldview

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From a Christian internet bulletin board discussing the band, Good Charlotte (grammar errors included): “Hi everyone.  Im new.  I would just like to tell you a bit about myself and Good Charlotte.  I’m a Christian.  I came to know God, when I was very young.  I have gone to church my whole life.  Camps, everything.  I have a very loving Christian family.

“I know that although people may be Christians, they do sin, along with everyone else.  I don’t steal or swear, or smoke or do any drugs.  I pray, and I sin.  Good Charlotte are Christians.  They do the same things we all do!  They sin too!

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Teaching a "To" Faith

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You are probably all too familiar with this scenario.  You are catching up with one of your teens who's been missing youth group lately and who you've also heard things about.  You decided to order a "just-checking-in" pizza with this student.  In the discussion over that pizza he/she simply tells you that, "I'm going to have fun now and come back to God when I'm older."  Decision made.  You say some desperate encouraging words back but then you watch this teen leave and you are filled with dread for him/her.  You know all you can do is pray, particularly for protection for the upcoming years.  

These stories hurt.  These stories are why youth ministry can be so hard.

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The Youth Ministry Essential 55

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Over the summer I read a great little book called The Essential 55 written by Ron Clark, who was the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year.  This North Carolina boy purposely teaches in Harlem and has experienced great successes in his students.  It is from these rules he has made and applied that have challenged his students to grow beyond expectations.  He put this book together to help other teachers, and others, to grow successful students.

I encourage you to read this book.  I know you are not a school teacher but you do teach students.  These Essential 55s will help you as you teach godly principles and help your youth find their place in this world.  I include some of them here with small comments but I highly recommend that you get this little book for yourself, read all of it (maybe every 6 months--it is a quick read) and place it next to your PDYM or whatever stuff.

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Using Your Church Kitchen as a Youth Ministry Tool

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I randomly found this article in the Christian Science Monitor that peaked some brainstorming.

To quote from the article: “At Jill Prescott's ecole de Cuisine (a cooking school), it can be as easy as making the perfect omelet or sautéing vegetables. Students learn that when they follow the rules, master the techniques of cooking, and understand some of the chemistry of food, they experience success. When that happens, the kitchen erupts with expressions of joy: The students have taken a glob of dough, kneaded and shaped it, and turned it into a beautiful and delicious pastry.

“Learning to use piping bags, balancing the flavors of a stew, and filling the room with the seductive aromas of baking bread all bring about instant gratification. To highlight the moment, there are lots of smiles and clapping and look-what-I've-just-done remarks.

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Use Debate as a Creative Teaching Style

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In Pair of Cleats, we have often encouraged you to stretch your teaching to new creative “frontiers.” We strongly believe in the use of many different creative teaching methods and leaning less on “speaching” methods. So I was encouraged to read this quote from Richard Ross, someone I respect, in the current Group Magazine (January/February 2010): “A strategy I have grave concerns about is one that places students almost always in a passive, listening mode while leaders speak or talk to them about spiritual things. I think brain research is just confirming what we already intuitively know and is clear in Scripture—that students who are not engaged deeply in conversations about faith, who are struggling with issues of faith, who are not closely observing faith being worked out in the life of an adult, they’re not growing that much. We tried that strategy for 50 years, and the experiment didn’t work. But people are still doing this every week.”

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Teaching to Our Conclusions

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The tasks of Faith Shaping is probably the sole reason why I’m still in youth ministry 28 years later.  I love seeing the light turn on in the hearts of teens.  Teens are in that wonderful (it does have days of wonder) season of life where they are moldable while in the process of making true life decisions.  And honestly, I love being an influencer in that.  I particularly love moving around the members of my church family to help the teens go through the Faith Shaping Tasks.  In doing that I’m doing my job better and I still get to see those lights turned on.  And yes, this is really all about me and the joy I have.  While I don’t want to lead a Brenda-centered youth ministry with everything centered on me, I do want personal joy from the work that I do.  And being a part of shaping the faith of teens does bring me joy.

So from my love of faith shaping, I appreciate this quote.  Chuck Bomar, founder of collegeleader.org, in referring to the faith development of teens wrote, “I think the biggest way we push students into foreclosure is that we automatically teach conclusions. 

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Bottom Line Goal Of Creating Memories

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I have had the privilege of raising special group of youth called “Gods’ Family” over the past eight years.   This group is responsible for giving me a completely new outlook on ministry as I have grown as they have grown up. They are now scattered in their young adult lives and I am continuing to grow with them.  They are the heartbeat of my life.

I was blessed over a recent weekend to visit and catch up with three of them.  Those were precious hours to me learning firsthand how their lives and faith are continuing to grow.  It was also fun to go over some of our memories.  I was particularly blessed to learn how those memories have made up their faith as young adults.  Those memories formed their faith.

My husband and I visited two of our girls who are attending a top-ranked college and one of our boys who is serving some time in prison.  Very different outcomes in their lives (at this time) but these two things remained constant.  All three had a growing faith and all three had the same memories.

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Is It On The Test?

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‘Tis the season again.  It is the season for tests.  Our students will have lots of them.  There are SATs and ACTs.  There are the standardization exams (do you have your number 2 pencil?).  And of course, there are final exams.

Youth ministry question: So what are you planning on doing to help your students through Exam Season?  Youth ministry involvement will come in second anyway (unless you have found a way to promote them to their next grade) so why not do something to support this Exam Season.  What are you going to do?

However, “is it on the test” has more to do with youth ministry than Exam Season.  It is one of those cries of youth.  The approach youth choose to face many things is simply, is it on the test?

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The Keeper of the Questions

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Q: My mom and dad are divorcing and I am in the middle. What am I to do?
A: Ask Jesus to lead you. He is there for you.

Q: Why does the Bible say this here and this there?
A: God gave us His word. He will reveal it to you.

Q: How could this disaster come into my life? I’ve been serving God diligently.
A: God knows what He is doing. It is all a part of a greater plan.

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Teachings That Make Your Youth Evangelizers

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Barna Research Group just released a new report about evangelizers (“49 Million Born Again Adults Shared Their Faith in Jesus in the Past Year,” July 28, 2003). This is the first survey of this type I can remember from them. It comes just in time for the back-to-school “win your campus for Christ” rallies and “campus missionaries” commissioning services. In a nutshell, Barna found out that if you want a church of evangelizers, teach them the Christian foundations.

“A veritable army of Christians is still active in spreading the good news about what Jesus Christ has done for all people. Believers use a range of approaches to share the message of Christ’s love and forgiveness with people regardless of the social restrictions and legal barriers to making Jesus known.

Read more: Teachings That Make Your Youth Evangelizers

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  2. Widening Their Reality
  3. The Wonder of Learning
  4. Rites of Passage
  5. Don't Give Me The Stage
  6. Using All Five Senses