WWJD... has that really changed anything?

We're reading a book together... in cyberspace, and we're having a conversation via the world wide web, and I hope you will lend your voice to the conversation. I rarely read "forwards" or "introductions" to books; I go right for chapter 1. But, in Rick Lawrence's book, Jesus Centered Youth Ministry, he draws a line in the sand about our perceptions of Jesus right away in the "introduction" chapter. As he watched the WWJD movement come and go, with not much impact on behaviors and actions, He began to ponder this question, "What does "follow Jesus" mean anyway?" I know that as a youth pastor, I have asked this question over and over and over to students and leaders and parents. The blank stares coupled with the stuttering and stammering I've heard and seen over the years should have been a warning sign that something in my ministry was not connecting; we were not connecting with Jesus.

Rick shares an experiment that he tried... reading as quickly through the Gospel of Matthew as possible, looking for patterns in what Jesus said and did. He shares a summary of 15 observations he wrote about that evening while sitting in front of his computer. Find them on page 12 and share your thoughts here... please reference the number of the observation. I will go first: #4 caught my attention right away... "Jesus hated it when people hid themselves behind religious rule keeping, and he told his followers to plunge themselves into the mainstream culture like a lamp in a dark room or salt added to a recipe." I'm guilty of working for the people to keep the peace and stay in the lines rather than working for God and sending my students into the world to be light, and challenging them to live at risk for Jesus!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS EVENT:
Make College Count Seminar: Preparing for the College Transition
Derek Melleby, Director of the College Transition Initiative, a ministry of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (CPYU), will lead this event on April 3, 2011. This seminar is designed for college bound high school students and their parents and will address the transition from high school to college. Bring your entire youth Group for a reduced price.
Learn more at www.parishresourcecenter.com/lancaster

NOOMA DVDs at the PRC

I'm sure you've all heard about the Nooma, which is "a series of short films that explore our world from a perspective of Jesus.  Nooma is an invitation to search, question, and join the discussion."  (Words from the back cover of the DVD!)

The Nooma DVDs seem to fly in and out of the center.  It might be our hottest resource in the youth area right now.  Subscribers have used them with Youth, but also with Adults, as discussion starters.

Check them out!  (Feel free to call ahead to see if the one you want is available, or to reserve for a future date!)

Find out more at Flannel.org. 

Are you reading the book?

In my last post, I challenged us to read a book together (Jesus Centered Youth Ministry by Rick Lawrence) and discuss our findings and musings in this blog. Have you found the book? ordered the book? reading the book? I hope you can make the time... we'll begin the discussion later this week and will start with the idea that Rick Lawrence puts forth in Part One of the book from Charles Spurgeon... making a beeline to Christ (pg. 20) Enjoy the Fall weather that is upon us! Peace and Joy,

Tim Bistline

Making time to be Together... we're better for it!

It is a great privilege to be a guest on this blog, and to share my ups and downs as a youth pastor; what I've learned along the way and what has impacted my life and ministry over the years. I would have to say the greatest resource that I have encountered over the last 20 years is my relationships with other pastors, mentors, peers and students that have changed me for the better. I learned early on that being a "lone ranger" in ministry, especially youth ministry, is a dangerous temptation; one that we all must battle and face head on. But, it has been those moments when I was knee-deep in work and programs and cool youth stuff that I was challenged to "step back" away from myself, and invest time and energy into another... and I'm not talking about the students we passionately pour our lives into on a regular basis.

We need each other and we need to take time out of our so called "busy" ministry schedules to be with one another; to listen, to pray, to challenge, to share, and yes, sometimes even get new ideas. I have noticed in the history of this blog that NO ONE has commented or responded to postings. I am sure you have your reasons, but being too busy does not cut it in today's youth ministry landscape; you and I can not make it on our own. We were not created to walk alone... May I suggest that over the next several months, for as long as I am asked to guest blog here in this corner of cyber-space, that you and I and others like us join together to read one of the best youth ministry resource books out there on the market?

TODAY, treat yourself to purchasing the book, Jesus-Centered Youth Ministry (ISBN: 978-0-7644-3504-1) by Rick Lawrence, Executive Editor of Group Magazine. This book will enlighten you, challenge you to lead students differently, give you insight into where your ministry with students should be heading, and save you time from all the busyness of programs and events. Plus, it will give us something to talk about here! I will be blogging about this book for several posts; I invite you to join in on the conversation. If you can't afford a copy of the book, let me know and we'll take care of that hurdle for you... We are stronger Together!

Welcome Tim Bistline, Guest Blogger

We are thrilled to introduce Tim Bistline to you, as a guest blogger.  Tim has a ton of experience in youth ministry!!  We know that you'll find Tim's thoughts to be helpful and thought-provoking!  I asked Tim a few questions as a way to introduce him to you:

How long have you been doing youth ministry?

I started working with teenagers in 1989.  I was focused on the national youth ministry of the Churches of God, General Conference denomination, based in Finley Ohio. 

What attracted you to it first of all?

We were doing a week-long, youth-focused seminar with speakers and bands and breakout groups.  It was the largeness of the event, seeing teenagers get excited about their faith.  I wanted to bring some relevancy to what we doing.

What’s your current role?

Pastor of Impact Ministries at St. Mark’s UMC in Mt. Joy.  Right now it’s overseeing youth ministry and youth adult ministry (18-30) and ministry to the community.  It's a non-ordained role. 

(What a great name, Pastor of Impact Ministries!)

What do you love about youth ministry?

The energy and the openness that teenagers bring to life and faith.  I like dealing with their doubts and their fears.  I like helping them navigate culture -- and having their faith to inform their culture.  I’m passionate about helping kids have a biblical worldview.

What’s the hardest part about youth ministry in today’s world?

I’ve done it so long now, that the hardest part is busy lives and busy schedules.  If people don’t have enough to do, they’ll make time for church.  Busyness is a huge factor.   There are many distractions in a teenager's life: school, sports, internet, cell phones, jobs, parents expectations.   Now, it’s a marketing nightmare.  You have to market your ministry differently and in more ways for them to decide whether to value it or not.  In a typical week, I might send out the same information five times, but I send it out in multiple ways. 

When you’re not involved in ministry, what you doing?

Spending time with family and raising my kids, being active in their lives.  We’re passionate about Lancaster City, so we do a lot in the city.  I like watching movies, reading books, listening to a lot of different kinds of music and coaching soccer on an intramural level with little kids. 

My wife Sharon and I have been married 22 years.  We have two teenage daughters at McCaskey high school.  Both are looking at a career in teaching.  And we raise seeing eye-puppies.  It’s my daugher’s gig but we do it as a family. 

 Prior to serving at St. Mark's UMC in Mt. Joy, Tim was involved in the youth ministry programs at First United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church in Lancaster City, Highland Presbyterian Church in Manheim Township and Hempfield United Methodist Church.

I had a chance to work with Tim at Highland way back when (early 1990s!) and was impressed with his leadership even then.  Tim and my husband Dale, who is currently the Director of Youth Ministry First Presbyterian, Lancaster, have been buddies for a long time. 

Welcome, Tim!  Blog away. 

Thanks, Marilou!

Thanks, Marilou, for starting and attending to this blog!  Marilou is on leave from the PRC for four months, and will return in February.  We look forward to her return and will miss her honest and from-the-heart words.

I'll be blogging a bit and inviting others to blog, too! 

Tracey Marx

Military Enlistment

I'm passing this along. I know this man personally; he is a man of deep integrity and spirituality.

from Titus Peachey
Mennonite Central Committee Peace desk

I wanted to alert you to a resource for youth pastors and mentors regarding military recruitment and enlistment. Titled, "Behind the Camouflage: A Primer on Military Enlistment for Youth Pastors, Mentors and Counselors," this resource discusses both the practical and moral/spiritual questions related to a young person's decision about military enlistment.

This resource is not currently published as a printed resource. You can download a copy at co.mcc.org/us/co/.

While bearing the marks of a pacifist perspective, it is written for an ecumenical audience. As a counselor on the GI Rights Hotline, I (Titus) speak frequently with young soldiers and their families. The military experience often stirs questions about allegiance and morality whether or not the service member comes from a pacifist faith tradition. My hope is that this document will help pastors, counselors and youth mentors discuss these issues with youth who might be considering military enlistment.

If you want to contact Titus directly, you can do so at tmp@mcc.org.

Media

The promised resource has arrived and is ready for you to check out.
Download: Teaching Teenagers to Filter Their Media Choices is at the PRC. This 3-week unit is written by Walt Mueller of CPYU. From the cover: ...will help you teach your students how to think critically and biblically about everything they see and hear in their media world...

This is an important topic for us to address and an important skill for kids to develop. I hope you'll use this, and it will prove helpful.

workshop

Well, you missed it. Tim Bistline was here at the PRC last night, and he was terrific. He's got a wide range of experience (small church, large church, urban, suburban) and spoke to the group in ways that were informative and inspiring. He gave us some good information and his enthusiasm encouraged me. I was so glad I was there.

Some advice from Tim:
Be a good listener.
Ask good questions.
Don't over-react.

He talked about 2 things which I have been harping on (I did not coach him):
1) youth workers NEED to have a network or support group for their own mental, emotional and spiritual health. Youth work in a congregation can be lonely work. It can be exhausting work. You must make time to meet with others (not your parent/congregational volunteers) in youth ministry.
2) you "need to plan more than a month out." direct quote from Tim
Haven't I been nagging you about this?

The evening was just what we needed, inspiring us to continue to follow God's call to work with kids.

Adolescent Development

I just unearthed some short articles about adolescent development--physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual. Five 2- or 3-page articles, easy to read. It would be well worth your while to do that just to remind yourself what kids are capable of and what you can expect. Having realistic expectations about behavior could save you some heartache and anger. This knowledge could also help you in planning lessons/topics/units for the year. Here is one for you to read: The Wild World of Adolescent Emotional Development."
(I slipped these articles in the vertical files in the Religious Ed section--Age Group Characteristics--just in case you come looking for them.)
Email me to take a look at the others--all by Walt Mueller: Smart Kids, Stupid Parents? Understanding Adolescent Intellectual Development; Look at 'em Grow!: Understanding Adolescent Physical Development; From Parents to Peers: The Pull of Adolescent Social Development; "God, Are You There?" Understanding Adolescent Spiritual Development.
Speaking of which...I would be glad to sit with you and plan a unit or semester or an entire year or your whole 4 year program. We've got lots of good stuff here, and long-term planning wouldn't be a problem.

New Resource

I think I'm going to use this space to promote some resources that we have here at the PRC on topics that I think we ought to be addressing with our youth. I just finished a short, 3-week unit on sexuality with my junior high kids in my home congregation. I told the kids that the reason I was really all worked up about teaching on this topic is because I believe that this discussion should be taking place in their faith community. I think sexuality and relationships are theological topics. I think the kids need to hear Christian adults in their own communities talk about these things. I think the kids need to know that these Christian adults who love them and care for them and are close to them are willing and eager to talk to them about anything.

There are other topics that I think are important for us to address.
Here's one of them:
media

And to help you do that, I've ordered a CPYU (Center for Parent/Youth Understanding--Walt Mueller) publication. It's a 3-week unit on teaching your kids to evaluate media--movies, music, ads, computer programs. It doesn't tell your kids what to think; it teaches them how to think.
It's called Download: Teaching Teenagers to Filter Their Media Choices. It uses a DVD and a student workbook that CPYU has had out for a number of years, How to Use Your Head to Guard Your Heart: a 3(D) Guide.

I really just ordered the DVD 10 minutes ago. It ought to be here within a week. Come in and ask for it. I think we need to help our kids think theologically about their world--and media of all sorts are a big part of their world.

More Topics-We-Ought-To-Be-Addressing-(According to Marilou) in future blogs.

3 things

1) Blatant advertisement
Carol Howard Merritt is coming Saturday, January 29. Her topic is Reaching the Google Generation. See more on our website.

2) I just read yet another article about the waning of the specific youth ministries model within congregations. Is your congregation talking about this? This article was written by Kara Powell of Fuller Seminary. Moving Away from the Kid Table.

3) Read Walt Mueller's entire article in the Aug. 8 edition of CPYU's on-line publication. But here's the outline:
He suggests that youth leaders:
--tend to your own theological and spiritual vitality.
--rethink your theology of conversion.
--cultivate the life of the mind.
--focus on integration of faith into all of life.
--fight materialism and injustice.

Suggestions Needed

Hey--
We're collecting website suggestions.
Email me with the website (1 or 2) that you like the most and regularly use.

mariloulanc@prctr.org

Workshop Opportunity

Rediscovering the shape of youth ministry...
Recovering the soul of the youth worker...
A conversation about youth ministry for the 21st century

Tim Bistline, pastor at St.Mark's UMC in Mount Joy, will lead this discussion on the mission, vision and values of youth ministry. Participants will learn how to prevent loneliness, burnout or 'doing it all for the sake of ministry.'

Tuesday evening, September 14, 2010 7-9 pm
PRC subscribers are free.
Non-subscribers pay $10.
Please register by Sept. 7.

Kids as leaders

I just read 2 articles written by different people and really on different topics, but after reading them both, I had the same question in my head: how do we really use our kids in our congregations?

One writer likened our congregations to coaches who train basketball teams but never play games. We teach our kids for years, tell them Bible stories, do activities which we hope reinforce Biblical principles, mentor, drill, but then don't give them authentic opportunities to really do something with all that training.

This author thinks that one reason our older youth find more and more reasons not to attend services and meetings and events is that they are not given real leadership responsibilities.

Now I know there are problems when we ask a teen to serve on the Missions Committee: he doesn't show up for meetings, she doesn't follow through on assignments, he sits there and doesn't contribute and frankly looks bored/scared/ticked off, she's only there 'cause I twisted her arm to be the token Youth...

But can we still think about this and correlating questions?
Have we talked to the kids about spiritual gifts? maybe given them a spiritual gifts survey ?
Are they really useful in the positions we've shuffled them into or are they merely token representatives?
Do we only give them Youth Sunday to orchestrate worship but no other time?
Do we give them real jobs within the youth group structure to fashion their own worship and events?
Are the upperclassmen mentoring the younger kids?

How does this work in your congregation?
Have you been successful in developing teen leaders?

Interesting information to pass on to your kids and parents

I read these articles on the CPYU on-line publication, but you can go to each site directly and read the articles.
I thought this may be information you might want to pass on to parents. You also might want to talk directly to your kids about the sleep article.

NPR Teen drinking
summary: parental home rules about drinking do affect teen behavior

CNN Health
summary: sleep deprivation in high schoolers results in depression in a significant number of kids

Talk to me

I love magazines. Short, to the point. Easy to pick up and put down.
Just got a new one at the PRC: Immerse.
It's published by Barefoot Ministries, Nazarene Publishing House. I thought it was a result of some merger, but I can't find that information anywhere in the magazine.

Come in and look it over.



Would you call or email me and tell me what you use with your high school group for Sunday School? Do you use denominational stuff? Do you make up your own?
phone--299-1113
email--mariloulanc@prctr.org

CPYU workshop

I advertized the CPYU one-day youth worker training seminar on Sat. 13 March in Gap.

Anyone going?

Please contact me if you are. I can not go, but I'd like to hear your reflections after that weekend.

You can call me at the PRC 299-1113
or email me there mariloulanc@prctr.org
or even drop me a note (what a novel concept)
633 Community Way 17603

Job

Our administrative office received this recently:

Trinity UCC, Hallam, is looking for a dynamic, passionate, creative leader to join our church family as Christian Education Coordinator. This is a newly created position - approximately 10 hours per week. Responsibilities will include program development and coordination of our Sunday School programs as well as our youth group program. Please send resume to Trinity UCC, 200 East Market Street, Hallam, PA 17406 or email to trinity@trinityhallam.com. For more information call 757-3169.

Might this be interesting to someone out there?