Youth

When You Least Expect It

Serving in youth ministry has allowed me to walk alongside hundreds of families over the years, and I am convinced that all parents want the best for their children. What the best is, I am discovering, is up for grabs. As I have watched teenagers attempt to navigate the rough waters of adolescence and make their way into adulthood, I have been pleasantly surprised by some as they completely sell out to the call of God. At the same time, I have been disappointed by some who seem to be satisfied with the status quo. Watching this has made me reflect on my own children and as a result, I have grown deeply burdened for them.

The Authority of Authenticity in Youth Ministry

The headline jumped out on the front page of the April 12, 2010 Kansas City Star:  KC Police Brace for Return of Unruly Youths to Plaza. The story read:

Police were expecting trouble last weekend, but not of the magnitude that was delivered when as many as 900 juveniles swarmed the Plaza streets and sidewalks. Police think texting and social media played a role in the wave of youths.... The youths "were destroying property, pushing people as they walked down the sidewalk and spitting on people," Police Capt. Donna Greenwell said. "It was just mass chaos and mayhem." ...Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks said the entire city needs to confront the issue of young people not having enough wholesome weekend evening activities. "It's everybody's responsibility," said Sanders Brooks, who represents the 3rd District, in the heart of the city. "It's going to take council people, the private sector, parents and the faith-based community."

The Sanctuary

Just a few days ago, one of my bright blue eyed students came up to ask a question.  I noticed the tops of her hands were covered in scars from self injury.  When asked about them, she explained with a dropped head, that some kids at school had called her names, and this is how she handled it.  Another shared with me her story in broken tears about the argument she had earlier that day with her best friend.  One quick and creative boy whose parents are in the middle of an ugly divorce can solve a Rubix cube in 3 minutes.  He brings it every week for others to watch in awe.  All of these students have something in common.  They all need a sanctuary. 

When I hear the word "sanctuary," my mind is harkened back to the old sanctuary I grew up making pilgrimages to each week.  It was a large room with arched beams, green and gold stained glass windows, and wooden pews with the pervading scent of lemon polish.  No matter what happened that week, the sanctuary didn't change.  You knew your "spot".  It was safe.  It was a constant.  It was a place I met God.  In that place were people who knew my name and loved me.  It was because of those people that it was the safe place I needed.  If we are honest it's something we all need. 

Do You Have to Be Angry to be Emergent?

Do you have to be angry to be emergent? My most basic concerns about the emerging church conversation are really not theological. That is to say, while there are theological issues I would like to pursue in that conversation that is not significantly different from the ongoing theological conversation of the church in any time. What adds a problematic dimension to this conversation is the tone that seems to be characteristically present.

Let me acknowledge at the outset that any general consideration of the emerging church is an impossible task. The very nature of the conversation defies easy categorization. Proposals range from radical to incremental reform. So, any generalization can be easily critiqued. Nevertheless, it seems to me that there are some patterns that are, at the least, recurring.

Just for Fun

Not sure where you're at in your ministry rhythm, but it's January on the calendar, and for many of us that means some type of winter fare; skiing, tobogganing, ice skating, tubing, winter retreats, etc.

Along with that come some of the most vivid memories to my days in youth ministry.  So I'm sitting in a Starbucks yesterday talking with a youth pastor, and we began to reminisce about incidents we encountered while on one of these winter trips with our youth groups.  I realize stories like these aren't limited to the month of January, but also thought maybe you needed something to laugh about, something to remind you of the reason we all are in youth ministry, to watch our students hurt themselves.  In every case we shared, we agreed and knew that it "hurt", but it was "funny".  Thanks Brittany.

In that vein, here are a couple of my stories.

On this particular evening, we were skiing on a hill in Michigan called Bittersweet, and that is what this particular night entailed.  I remember skiing down one of the runs, to see several students from our group looking down in a ravine, which is never a good thing.  I asked them what was going on, and they proceeded to tell me that Sarah was down there.  Apparently what had happened is she was "cut off" by another skier, and was sent flying off the run, into the ravine, where she came to a stop under a fallen tree.  The reason cut off is in quotation marks is because you've never seen Sarah ski.  Well, after I quit laughing, listening to her languish about her knee being bent in ways it shouldn't, we got some help to get her out.  Her knee was okay, her ego wasn't.

The Family Communication Project

The Family Communication Project comes from and moves toward a vision of holistic family based youth ministry. It would be inadequate to simply describe a project or activity without explaining the understanding and vision behind it. The following paper begins with an understanding of the need for holistic family based youth ministry, followed by the rationale for the project, and finally an explanation of the project itself. Included in this paper are some of the necessary materials for the project to be effective. The Family Communication Project is designed to be flexible and adaptable to every community situation. Therefore the explanation of the project below could simply be considered as a guideline or an explanation of what an actual project that a church would implement might look like.

Sabbath: Option or Mandate?

Now, I'm not an expert on Sabbath, Sabbath-keeping, etc., but I think that is part of the problem.  Let me try and explain what I'm talking about.

I recently got off the phone with a youth pastor who is just flat burned out.  He talked with me about the need he was having for a break, and what I think he was asking for was a Sabbath, a rest, a break from the routine.  This was more than just a time to spend with family; as a matter of fact, from the outside looking in, I thought he was one of the guys who had it all together.  I thought he was pretty balanced in his life at church and home.  From the outside, he seemed like he was doing okay.  Apparently I was wrong.

He didn't have an affair, not even on the radar screen.  He didn't have a meltdown, loss of work ethic, fractured marriage, or kids who hated him.  He didn't have a board that was too demanding, a slave driver as a senior pastor, or a youth staff that expected him to be at everything and do it all himself.  He was just dying from the inside out.  His pastor was shocked when he told him how he felt.  The board was supportive but a little bewildered by his request for a sabbatical.  How does this happen?  How do we get here? 

An Oasis in the Desert: My First Year in Small Church Youth Ministry

Let me start with an introduction.  My name is Michael Peirson, and I'm a youth pastor.  I want to give you an historical snapshot that will help with the context of this article.

I attended Western Michigan University, obtaining a degree in secondary education.  Upon completing my "formal" education, I realized my life had much more to teach me.  I returned home and began working in a youth ministry near my home.  At the same time I began to feel God tugging my heart in a new direction.  The time I was spending with the Jr. Higher's of this church was beginning to speak to my heart,  and I began to ask a new set of questions.  Was this moving me to another calling in my life?  Is this something that was even a possibility?

I began to search out a way to explore this new passion in my life.  Was this God, or just the pizza I had eaten last night?  God led me to Olivet Nazarene University, where I not only saw this as a possibility, but began to realize that this was a calling on my life.  The theological base and grounding I obtained there has been, and is, essential in my ministry.

Meanderings/Thoughts on General Assembly 2009 – Orlando

It would be an understatement to say that the NYI Convention was an exciting place to be. Watching the other sites around the world pop up on the screen for the first time was a testament to the ‘global' commitment! Wow! Yes, I can be emotional at times. However, there were other older, wiser men and women who were dabbing at a tear or two as we watched delegates from around the world sing, pray, vote, and rejoice together as a unified church! In my many years of NYI involvement I have never seen the COTN work in this manner. What a cool convention!

As the other sites shared their hearts with us - I had to come to grips with my biases and prejudice. I had come to this convention with underlying, hidden thoughts of arrogance and pride that rose to the surface as a result of being reprimanded by the prayer lives, faith, dedication, and work ethic of those who were of a different color and tongue than me. Why had I thought that I had so much more to bring to the table? The conversation that I joined was full of spirit, unity, love, joy, commitment, and lack of judgment. How blessed I felt as I participated in the global dialogue of bringing Christ to the nations. Knowing that we are all called and we are all answering that call ‘together' but in unique ways was a beautiful confirmation of the Body of Christ at work in harmony.

“For Such A Time As This” The Role of Holiness in Youth Ministry

Esther 4:13,14

13Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

You can tell that Jewish scholars and theologians have a great understanding of history and tradition by their belief that that they are only one generation away from being extinct as a people. Their diligence and perseverance to continue the movement of their faith, is something not just out of tradition, but also out of necessity.