Doing Differently in order to Make a Difference Pt.2

I apologize for not posting for awhile. A migraine kept me home and away from the computer on my usually blogging day and I have been playing catch-up since. I appreciate those who have added to the conversation begun 2 weeks ago regarding the "effect" youth ministry has on teenagers as a whole. It might help if I back up a bit and provide some clarity on my end. I want to make sure and clarify my attitude as being one of optimism and intentionality. I was blessed by those who provided comments which provided encouragement in what has occurred, reminding me of the potential for true life-change within youth communities. I want to make sure that I don't diminish what has been accomplished at Oak Grove, both in recent history and throughout past eras. I also want to celebrate what has occurred within other youth ministries in other places that have literally been "salvation" for many teenagers. I apologize if I too easily glossed over that awareness in my last post. I also want to make sure and communicate that I am not speaking about sheer numbers of students being involved. My desire for Oak Grove is that we would help MORE students move into a DEEPER expression of the "way of Jesus". My concern springs from my desire that we focus more time on redemptive relationships (with adults and other students) than we do events. And that we would focus more energy on helping students develop habits that integrate into the other 165 hours of their week rather than just experiencing these things when we are together 3 hours a week. Around this time last year I had conversations with groups of parents and volunteer leaders inviting them into a "re-culturing" of youth ministry here at Oak Grove. We discussed the opportunity to do the following: Expand “the village” for all teenagers; Invite teenagers to revolutionary living; Remind teenagers who they are; Do less?; Become a ministry to families; Expand view of youth community. I have also recently added 2 more "What If?" questions to the list. "Adopt a rhythm of life instead of a calendar of events" and "Move from Focusing on Being Attractional to Being Formative." You can find these discussed in greater detail by clicking on the link provided on my blog (www.ogumc.org/whatif) . In the vein of "expanding the village of adults", we began a new mentor initiative this past year with the intent of inviting caring adults to invest in the lives of teenagers without needing to lead a Bible Study, play Capture the Flag, or chaperone a weekend retreat. They were tasked with the challenge of connecting with teenagers in a specific grade group in 4 ways each month (correspondance, extra-curricular, youth-calendared event, and one-on-one). Though we still have a long way to go to perfect the system, I feel we are well on our way. Your child may have already experienced the blessing of a hand-written note of affirmation, or conversation over a Frosty, or someone with no blood relation showing up at their soccer game. This is fantastic! There is every indication that the investment of adults in the lives of teenagers outside of church programming provides tremendous help in navigating adolescence and learning to live the way of Jesus. I am excited about how we might continue to explore these "ways of being" together which help us in "creating life-changing communities through Jesus Christ". Let me know your thoughts on how these can be played out amongst us...