Can I Try? (An Allegory)

Sorry. Im a horrible blogger. anyway.

Im on vacation and every time we go on vacation we rent 4 Wheelers and take them to the desert side of the island we are on.  For hours we rip up sand dunes and fly down dirt roads.  I remember the first time my dad let me ride my own 4 wheeler. He brought me around the Kawasaki giving me a few pointers. Taught me how to go, stop, turn, and…well thats it. After about 5 minutes we were off and riding.  On the first trip I flipped my Kawasaki, popped a tire, and got so burned by the sun i could barely move by the end of the day. I was beat up, bruised, and most certainly screwed up my first shot at mastering this Kawasaki, but…i learned. alot. 

Imagine this.

We arrived at the place to pick up the bikes.  My dad then explained the how the bike works, why the bike works, and just how important the bike working is.  He then pointed out each and every intricate detail. Took apart the bike. Taught me how to put it together. He then took the bike for a spin. Taught me the three point turn. Taught me how to ride burms. Taught me how to jump. Taught me how to land. All the while saying “If you do what im doing you will be successful on this thing!”. As the hours go by im losing interest.  My dad tries to invent new ways of keeping my attention. He shows me a video about my bike.  He has a powerpoint about my bike. He even writes a song about my bike! Hard as he tries he cannot keep my attention on the bike.  He doesnt know why. This bike is the coolest thing on the face of the planet! No other machine can do what this Kawasakie can do.  If i could only learn to ride this Kawasaki properly i would be unstoppable, but i…i just want to ride it. Maybe ill flip it. Maybe ill pop a tire. Maybe ill hit a car, but i just want to ride the Kawasaki for my self.

To much of youth ministry is about teaching how to do Christianity successfully without letting the teenagers actually do it.  If they have an idea- let them do it. If they want to run the worship- let them do it. How about greeting ministry, announcement, media, website, myspace, conference, retreat, small group, bible study, school club, missions trips, audio/video, hosting, podcast, PREACHING!

Let the TEENAGERS do it. Will they crash? Absolutely. But its the only way they will learn. 

Changing Course

Well, I was going to write more about more about Awakening, but i think you got the point- It was amazing.  So I have decided to change up my bog a little bit. First! I have decided to actually blog.  Yup, more blogs at more times…we will see how that works out. Second! I have had a heart lately to talk about youth ministry as i have seen it, see it, and all from the viewpoint of a teenager…because I am, in fact, 17. Im not talking theology (obviously), nor will I talk about the newest things other people are doing (You probly know already), and I wont talk about what we have specifically done at my youth group (because you probly dont care, and copy/paste ministry sucks anyway).  Im going to be talking about concepts ive learned as a teenager growing up with with a youth group that has been all over the spectrum in terms of youth pastors, worship bands, and amount of youth. Concepts.  I like concepts.  Take what you want from what I have to say, leave it, challenge it, ask about it, or dont.  I understand im no guru in youth ministry. IM just a 17 year old, and that is all im claiming to be- but 17 is the age we lose all of our youth…why?

jb