When I can (when my calendar and alarm allows) I love going over to the high school and just hang out with the students who attend the early morning FCA. 

Today one young woman asked a very pointed question that gave the group pause and took them off the printed lesson and into a deeper conversation about faith. 

Do you think it is wrong for people to be Christian just to get into heaven?

The small group had conversation around the question and there were lots of great comments and ideas. 

What is your answer to this question?

How does our answer to this question reflect our understanding of who God is? 

I am a fixer…

Though I know my limits (cars and things that cause expositions that could take off an arm), I really like making things better.  I don’t think that this is an uncommon desire.  If you see something broken or someone hurting many times there is a desire to fix it.

I am a guy…

I have a limited attention span, I miss implied meanings (ask my wife) and have to have things explained to me very simply.

Finally I don’t like the details…

The phrase “the devil is in the details” is used frequently by some of our staff.  Well that is fine, I think to myself, I am a pastor and should stay as far away from the devil as possible and therefore should only touch details with a ten foot pole

What do these three things add up to…they mean that I have the tendency to look for the quick fix.  If there is a problem I would like to fix it, move on and not worry about the little things.  this is where my shotgun imagery comes in.  At times I will blast out an e-mail, or make a decision that I know will fix or address a problem that is in my ministry.  I will throw a bunch of stuff at my target at one time and hope something sticks.  Have a problem the church is facing preach a sermon, the youth are going somewhere they shouldn’t lock that part of the building…problem solved.

I am quick to fix and move on to the next thing.  I like to make things better in one fowl swoop, but I know God (being relational) calls me to act and lead differently.  Look even at the way we find our salvation.  Not through a magic wand, but through the very personal and very relational life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

I have to be reminded that I can’t bombard a problem and them wash my hands of it.  In our ministry people are the priority, not just because they matter to us us because they matter most to God.  Rather than being the fixer, I have to slow down and journey with student, friends and family to see what they are really saying and going through.

When we are able to the a community (a church) that journeys together and holds hands through the hard things we are becoming the people God has made us to be.

How are you practicing hand holding ministry rather than shotgun programing?

Finding a clear path through life seems to be rarity these days.  We pride ourselves in having 40 different kinds of tooth paste to choose from at any given time.  While variety is the spice of life, do we really need the choice of spearmint, peppermint, fresh mint, berry mint, cool mint, or cinimint being one that takes up a great deal of time?  It would seem that we have been cursed with the cloudiness of too many choices.

The church is no exception.  It seems like the path of discipleship in many cases is more like a choose your own adventure book where we blindly try to find our own way rather than a place where intentional discipleship is laid out in a focused and purposeful plan.

For the past couple of weeks I have been reading, searching and trying to develop a discipleship pathway for my congregation.  While this is a very daunting task for someone who has trouble focusing on even the largest details, I can see where this will become a very valuable tool.

For new folks coming through the door I can’t help but think that the pathway will give guidance and a framework that can be followed so that new members can become part of the faith community in a way that best feeds their soul.  The intent of the pathway for the new member is one that will give guidance to spiritual growth, but had enough flexibility that it can be taylored to each individual rather than teathering everyone to the same set of expectations.

For leadership talking about the pathway in a way that it becomes part of the DNA of the church is helpful in terms of keeping focused on the mission of the organization.  Keeping the pathway in sight and on the lips of conversation, the color of carpet becomes a minor issue and deepening the faith of yourself and others becomes the prime motivation.

I am excited to see where our pathway takes us as we develop it in a way that will shape things to come.

Do you have a pathway at your church or in your ministry?  I would love to hear about it.  What works and what doesn’t?

The difference he explained is that people who volunteer do it on their time when that have it to spare.  Where as unpaid servants are poeple who are serving with their whole selves and doing it the best that they can.  This kind of service demands commitment and a mentality to serve the church.
I think this is a wonderful way of looking at the people who give of their time and gifts to ministry.  It raises the bar and the expectation level to a place that would then “demand” excellence out of those who serve the church rather than just giving the church your leftovers.  I really thought that this was a great perspective and term for those who give to the church.

I was so struck by the wonder and magic of Disney that I wanted to post something.  Time has been flying by since we got back from Disney, but it was a wonderful trip.  Basically I wanted to post a short little video with the question, “What if we approached ministry with the passion Disney approaches putting magic into people’s lives?”

Take a look.  Sorry the stills are so poor looking but you get the point and can see some on Flickr in a little bit.  Most important is that you comment on how you would like to put wonder back in the ministries you are a part of.

The Disney Difference from Chris Bishop on Vimeo.

A quick thought and reflection on what the church could learn from Disney World.

 I saw this post the other week and I thought that it was really interesting.  It has been rolling around in my mind along with a quote from Kenda Creasy Dean that says that, “youth ministry is the R&D of the church.”  Makes me think about how youth are a great barometer for the health of the church.   Perhaps the exception to this is Churches like National Community Church in DC where 70% of the congregation is single twenty somethings, and in a very transient area. 

Take a look at the article, I found it to be some great food for thought.  Follow the link and scroll to the comments to read  other people’s thoughts on what Kara Powell wrote. 

You’ve perhaps heard the infamous statistic that 80-85% of people who become Christians do so before age 14.  We youth workers especially love quoting that data when we’re asking for a larger ministry budget.

There hasn’t appeared to be lots of hard data to back up that stat.  But maybe that’s changed.

Sociologist Dr. Christian Smith and his team at the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR) have studied teenagers of all religious persuasions (Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Mormon, Religiously Indifferent, etc.).  He reports in his new book, Souls in Transition: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults, that 85% of those 18-23 who have ever made a commitment to God did so before age 14.

Remember, the study includes teenagers and young adults of all religious persuasions, and it’s not entirely clear from the book what students mean what they say they have “made a commitment to God”.

But nonetheless, this is the best data I’ve seen in a while that supports that 85% statistic.

The 85% Statistic is Back — and Pretty Strong Actually | Fuller Youth Institute

Over the Christmas break I was able to watch as some kids at Katie’s winter break camp played games.  On of the games was a favorite of mine back in the day.  It was “Guess Who”.  This is the game where you try to guess through a process of questions and elimination which person your opponent has chosen.  There was always a little self-satisfaction as you swipe down an eliminated candidate with a thwack of the board.  The only downside was if you got a girl (there were about 4 in total )or someone with a hat (maybe 5 total).  Soon you would realize that the game would be coming to an end because of the lack of diversity in the game. 

Regardless of that, I saw the importance of coming up with good questions so that you could weed out the losers from the winner.  I think the importance is true with youth ministry as well.  We need to be able to ask great questions and follow-up questions to get at the heart of who our kids are. 

I have tried to come up with some of my thoughts about asking questions, but i would like to hear yours too.  I know that I am very bad at this and so it has taken some work and effort to get to the place where I am.  Here is my brain dump of question asking:

1. Start slow: Start off with something easy.  Ask for some information about a student that isn’t really taxing and so you can get an idea of where they are located in life.
2. Open a Door: Ask open ended questions where there is no “yes” or “no” answer.  This will make them think and give you something else to talk about. 
3. Care by listening: Allow the conversation to build on what they have already talked about.  Don’t just ask your questions without thinking about what the students are saying.  Asking follow-up questions will show that you are listening and that you do care.  Having an adult really listen is something that many students lack in their lives and is meaningful. 
4. Repeat:  Check back in with them the following week about something that they shared with you (a sporting event, test, birthday…).  I have to write these things down or I forget.  But, it is always cool when people remember what is important to you from week to week. 

What are some other ways you have found to ask great questions?

 

An Article by Carlee Lammers

The youth of Middletown United Methodist Church held a Homeless for a Night event on Dec. 5-6 to raise awareness of homelessness and hunger not only in the surrounding communities, but across the United States.  Approximately 82 children in Middletown live under the poverty level, 1,140 people in Frederick County face homelessness every year, and nationwide as many as 3.5 million people experience being homeless.

After being confronted with these hard facts the youth of MUMC challenged their congregation to make an impact in regards to this immense issue. They started the event off with a door-to-door canned food collection asking for items that were in great need by the Middletown Food Bank.  The youth were able to collect over 650 canned food and personal care items.

For dinner they traded in their usual pizza and soda, for a simpler diet of rice and beans, which is very similar to what two-thirds of the world eats on a daily basis.  Members of their congregation came to share their own personal testimonies of their experiences with homelessness and hunger.  The members shared their eye opening experiences of being out on the streets, stereotyped, cold, hungry, and worst of all lonely and empty.

“(I think) the worst part is the treatment they receive and the emotional pain from knowing that no one wants you- your family, your friends, no one,” said member of MUMC youth group Sayre Posey.

The youth then broke into groups, and each group was given five-dollars to purchase healthy food to feed a family of four for one day.  They then realized just how difficult it is to feed a family a healthy meal on such a limited budget.

” It made me realize how quickly you can spend 5 dollars and not even have a full meal, which made shopping really hard,” said MUMC youth group member Meagan Parker.

The whole MUMC congregation raised five-hundred-sixty-dollars to be donated towards heating homes in the local area, packed 142 shoeboxes with Christmas presents for children around the world, and given gifts to men at the Frederick Rescue Mission.

The youth along with their congregation aren’t stopping now. They made plans to continue to raise awareness and be in ministry to the homeless and hungry community.

Homeless for a Night Recap : lifeforceyouth.com

Faith Lab: 7 things that bring change from Chris Bishop on Vimeo.

This is an Experiment i have been thinking about for a little while. Feedback is more than welcome. Thanks

Faith Lab Invite from Chris Bishop on Vimeo.