Today over lunch with one of my adult volunteers we started talking about how different youth groups identify themselves different ways. It seems to us that our youth ministry here in Minnesota currently identifies itself by what it does — it’s events, programs and activities. While that’s ok, I guess, what we really want is a youth ministry that’s identified by who it is, not what it does. For example, if I were to ask my youth group kids, “Why do you come to this youth group?” it’s our impression that right now we’d probably hear a variety of answers, mostly something like, “We like the games,” or “We think the Bible studies are cool,” or “We go on fun trips.” But what I really want our youth group to be identified by are characteristics of “being.” I want their answers to change to, “I come to this youth group because I know this is a place where I’m accepted,” or “I feel safe to be myself here,” or “These relationships really impact my spiritual growth.” And then what we do is determined by who we are, not the other way around.
Categorized | Youth Ministry
A new identity for our youth group
Posted on 28 February 2007 by Tim Schmoyer | Trackback link
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March 1st, 2007 at 5:58 am
My Thoughts Elsewhere 10:39 pm A new identity for our youth group » Life in student ministry02/26/07 like a fire » Remarkable Youth Ministry - Evangelism02/21/07 worshipdude.com » OK OK OK…..I Believe You!02/15/07 gregfielder.com - everything that’s on my mind02/09/07 youthgrouptshirts.com
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About me: I am married to my beautiful wife, Dana, and together we live in Minnesota where I serve as the youth pastor at our local church. The opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my church. More about me...
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February 28th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
I want them to encounter a touch of the Holy - a glimpse of God.
I want them to walk away with a taste of God in their mouth.
March 1st, 2007 at 6:27 am
I want students to experience God through spiritual reality
March 1st, 2007 at 8:58 am
Yeah, I also want our youth group to be identified as being a place where lives are spiritually transformed and leaders are developed for this generation.
March 6th, 2007 at 9:25 am
We recently changed the entire identity of our student ministry. We have been working on a logo, purpose statement, Download (Discipleship) plan, new Worship format, and the whole nine yards. Our students have went from being lazy to living for the cause. They are more excited than ever about sharing thier faith and making a difference. When we can get away from “what trips we are taking on the road” to “What journey we are taking in our spiritual lives”, thats when God can take our students and turn thier campus, community and church upside down for Christ!
March 6th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Daniel, that’s so awesome and exciting to hear! I’m kinda in the same process here in my new position, but everything is still pretty undefined. It’ll be exciting to see how God pulls all the puzzle pieces together as we cast our vision and put it into action as you guys are doing.