Ch 2. Variety in the Expression of Faith

Christian Research Association have released the findings from research done on youth ministry in Australia. The book is titled "A Vision for Effective Youth Ministry".
There is much in this research which all pastors, both youth and senior, should take seriously. In this series of posts, I hope to give a brief summary of each chapter. Of course, you will be much better off if you purchase the book yourself.

Variety in the Expression of Faith

“In the 21 case studies in our research across several denominations, there has been a remarkable similarity in the patterns of youth ministry and the ways faith has been expressed.”

I can’t argue with the research, but knowing that different church tribes have different emphases, it is a little surprising that youth ministry across the churches is much the same. But should it be? CRA use four characters to show different ways people express and grow in faith. How many of these are in your group now? (How many will there be in a few years time?)

The Nerd

This shouldn’t be seen as an unkind title. Rather, they use this to refer to those teenagers who just enjoy exploring the meaning of faith mentally. These people enjoy Bible study and the discussions that go along with that.

The Drama Kid

This teenager is one who enjoys the emotional expression found in music and in drama. They might not easily connect with an in-depth Bible study, but give them the opportunity to express faith in a worship service and they come alive.

The Practical Helper

For these people, their focus is on action: helping other people and doing their part to make the world a better place. CRA comment that these people might not come to church so often, but give them a project to do, and a place to help someone, and they will be there.

The Party Animal

Perhaps not the most helpful of titles, but you probably know this person. This is someone who greatly values church because of the people they meet there. And before we jump too quickly to doubt their faith, consider this: it is within the community that they learn how to live in a Christian way.

So, here are four different kinds of people, and we could describe them as people for whom the mind, the heart, the will, and the interaction are most poignant in their lives (p15). What do we do with such a mixed bag of people in our youth groups and the wider church?

A Vision for Effective Youth Ministry p17

Here I will put my tribal hat on. In my tribe – Presbyterian – the ones who fit best are the nerds. But it seems we are not alone. Most youth leaders surveyed would seem to fit into the nerd category as well. Which then raises some interesting questions about how to connect with the rest of the youth that we have the chance to minister to. How do we help those who enjoy the ‘experience’ to have a firm foundation? How do we lead the practical person to know Jesus well enough that they can help someone in Jesus’ name? How do we help the socialite find their greatest love in Jesus rather than depending just on the people around them? How can I do that if I, as a nerd, have no idea what it is like to actually enjoy worship physically?

CRA are, I think, on to something worrying when they write the following paragraph (p17):

“Perhaps a selection process has been in place over generations. Those who have enjoyed church activities have continued going. Those who have found them less meaningful have drifted away. The youth leaders are, in fact, products of this selection process: people who have not drifted away.”

We want people to read and to understand the Bible. We want to help them to be able to apply the teachings of the Bible to their own lives, and we want our leaders to be well trained and that normally means they will be well educated. That’s all true. But what about those who don’t read much? Do we just abandon them?

I found this comment very uncomfortable (p17):

Implicitly, many churches are saying that to be a good Christian one must be a particular type of person, the sort of person who is highly literate, enjoys a particular style of music and is willing to sing in public.

If that is true, what are we saying to the vast majority of teenagers who do not fit into this mold?

 

Ch 1. What Should Youth Ministry Be Doing?

Christian Research Association have released the findings from research done on youth ministry in Australia. The book is titled "A Vision for Effective Youth Ministry".
There is much in this research which all pastors, both youth and senior, should take seriously. In this series of posts, I hope to give a brief summary of each chapter. Of course, you will be much better off if you purchase the book yourself.

What should youth ministry be doing?

I have many answers to this question, but I will limit myself to what this book reports.

After a few pages laying out the scene for young people in Australia, the authors cut to the chase and show us what they believe youth ministry should be. In the second paragraph on page 4 they give three directives:

1. providing a context for the development of the spirit
2. helping young people to create meaning and find purpose in their lives, to develop motivations for and ways of meeting life's challenges, and encouraging commitment to life's goals.
3. providing a context in which young people can develop the capacity for good relationships with themselves, with close others, with the wider society, with the natural environment and with God.

Many of my peers would probably look at this and think this is lacking a strong evangelical edge. While I would probably agree with them, this comment from the authors helps to guide the reader:

. .. the religious faith needs to be interwoven with the realities of society, with its expectations and responsibilities. 

Many of us who serve as youth leaders in the evangelical & reformed part of the church have an idea of what we hope the youth will be when they become adults - strong disciples of Jesus Christ. But we don't often give thought to the starting point of these same young people. CRA take some time to suggest three pictures of different starting points.

The Fun and Friend Seeker

You know those teenagers who don't seem interested in anything at church that you are promoting? Those young people who only respond when you suggest something fun? This is that group. And we can't change them quickly, if we need to change them at all. But if you are part of a small church, it can be a real struggle to keep young people interested when the big church or other clubs always seem to have bigger and better activities.

I think we have the greatest message that teenagers will ever hear, and most of them won't be hearing it at school or at Hoyts. But if we make it really dull and boring, then we shouldn't be surprised that they look bored and stop coming along. Two suggestions are made on building connections with the fun seekers. Big events and food.

Big events are places where you can be anonymous while checking out what's going on. It might be a youth camp, Christian Youth Convention, or even a local churches event, but it's a place where people can come along and join in. It's a place to start.

And who doesn't love food? There are a lot of conversations that happen while people are eating together, whether it's a proper meal, supper snacks, or even if you are making pizza together. It's a fun way to make connections.

The challenge, as the writers point out, is to provide pathways for further steps in the development of the spirit.

Taking Life More Seriously

These teenagers might still enjoy some fun, but they have also recognised that there is more to life than fun and games. They want to explore some of the deeper issues of life, and those who are coming to church youth groups are looking for more information about the Christian faith. But it isn't limited to discussions. Many are looking to solve some of life's problems. Examples are given of those involved in a school trip to Cambodia to help build housing, or of getting involved with a soup kitchen in the city. How are you teaching your youth to take the issues of social justice seriously?

Here's an interesting observation. All youth leaders say they are open to questions about faith. (If you're not, then please go and do something else.) But most will say they are not asked many questions. Here's another quote:

One church had developed a strong ethos of being open to all sorts of questions. It is probably  not a coincidence that it was in that church we met the young person who said he was there to ask questions about the Christian faith. p7

What kind of culture are you developing in your youth ministry?

Churched Youth and Their Friends

The overwhelming majority of those involved in church based youth groups were young people who had grown up in families who attended the church. That's probably not surprising. Here they are meeting with friends they are already connected to, and here is a safe place for them as Christians to talk about life issues. For those attending state schools, youth group might be the only safe place they can do this.

But, like all things, there is a dark side. Consider this comment, "some of the young people in the youth groups said that they really did not want their non-churched friends to come." Does this conflict with the message from the leaders who keep urging them to bring those friends along? How do you resolve this?

This group of churched youth are further divided into three sub-groups (there's a lot of 'threes' in this chapter.)

1. A devotional faith. These teenagers appreciate the focus on faith and that there are leaders who take an interest in their spiritual lives. They enjoy the small groups where they can discuss faith, scripture, and the connection with their everyday life. They enjoy seeing that God is a part of their lives.
2. An owned faith. Teenagers want to take things seriously, but they can't - and won't - just pretend. They don't just want to inherit faith, they want it to be their own. So how do we help youth to own it for themselves? "In some places we gained the impression that the youth leaders were imparting their understanding, but not giving much space for the independent exploration of faith by the young people themselves." 
3. An applied faith. Leaders will surely want to help teenagers apply faith to all aspects of life. Or at least, we might assume that. For sure, there are those who are considering life choices in accord with their faith, but it would seem that there are many others who are not. "Many of them saw their career as something quite separate from their faith." 

Conclusion

 There is much more in the report than just what I have reported here, and I hope to write more in the days and weeks to come. But even in the first chapter those involved in ministry to youth and young people will find a lot to chew over.

• How do you connect with the fun seeker and those who want to take life more seriously? 
• How do you help those in the church invite their non-churched friends?
• What space are you giving young people to ask big questions?
• How will you help people connect faith to the whole of their lives?

Keep with me and I'll tell you some more.