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Reaching a New Generation.Reaching a New Generation.Reaching a New Generation.Reaching a New Generation.Reaching a New Generation.Reaching a New Generation.Reaching a New Generation.Reaching a New Generation.Mission and Evangelism with Young PeopleMission and Evangelism with Young People

Where have you been?Where have you been?Where have you been?Where have you been?Where have you been?Where have you been?Where have you been?Where have you been?Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?Where do you want to go?

We have a problemWe have a problemWe have a problemWe have a problemWe have a problemWe have a problemWe have a problemWe have a problem

WhatWhatWhatWhatWhatWhatWhatWhat’’’’’’’’s gone wrong?s gone wrong?s gone wrong?s gone wrong?s gone wrong?s gone wrong?s gone wrong?s gone wrong?

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•• Christendom thinkingChristendom thinkingChristendom thinkingChristendom thinkingChristendom thinkingChristendom thinkingChristendom thinkingChristendom thinking•• Talking over listeningTalking over listeningTalking over listeningTalking over listeningTalking over listeningTalking over listeningTalking over listeningTalking over listening•• Teaching over learningTeaching over learningTeaching over learningTeaching over learningTeaching over learningTeaching over learningTeaching over learningTeaching over learning•• DualisticDualisticDualisticDualisticDualisticDualisticDualisticDualistic•• Programme OrientatedProgramme OrientatedProgramme OrientatedProgramme OrientatedProgramme OrientatedProgramme OrientatedProgramme OrientatedProgramme Orientated•• Black and WhiteBlack and WhiteBlack and WhiteBlack and WhiteBlack and WhiteBlack and WhiteBlack and WhiteBlack and White•• HierarchicalHierarchicalHierarchicalHierarchicalHierarchicalHierarchicalHierarchicalHierarchical•• MaterialMaterialMaterialMaterialMaterialMaterialMaterialMaterial•• DullDullDullDullDullDullDullDull•• Lack of Adult discipleshipLack of Adult discipleshipLack of Adult discipleshipLack of Adult discipleshipLack of Adult discipleshipLack of Adult discipleshipLack of Adult discipleshipLack of Adult discipleship•• ConformistConformistConformistConformistConformistConformistConformistConformist•• Wedded to modernityWedded to modernityWedded to modernityWedded to modernityWedded to modernityWedded to modernityWedded to modernityWedded to modernity•• Informational not spiritualInformational not spiritualInformational not spiritualInformational not spiritualInformational not spiritualInformational not spiritualInformational not spiritualInformational not spiritual•• Default to Default to Default to Default to Default to Default to Default to Default to attractionalattractionalattractionalattractionalattractionalattractionalattractionalattractional modelmodelmodelmodelmodelmodelmodelmodel

““Escape the Circus and live beyond Escape the Circus and live beyond the limits of the imaginary lidthe limits of the imaginary lid””

Jesus said, Jesus said, ““I have come I have come that they may have life and have it that they may have life and have it

to the FULL!to the FULL!””

NewbiginNewbiginNewbiginNewbiginNewbiginNewbiginNewbiginNewbigin and Donavanand Donavanand Donavanand Donavanand Donavanand Donavanand Donavanand Donavan

But we like modernity!?But we like modernity!?But we like modernity!?But we like modernity!?But we like modernity!?But we like modernity!?But we like modernity!?But we like modernity!?

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Recent research Recent research

and writingand writing

Youth MinistryYouth MinistryContemplativeContemplative

Love desires presence

(Who will bear the life of God

among teenagers?)

Anxiety wants products

(What book, video, curriculum

will teach kids faith?)

Love seeks processes

(What can we do together to

uncover Jesus’ way of life?)

Anxiety seeks

professionals

(Who is the expert that can

solve the youth problem?)

Love seeks contemplation

(How can I be present to k ids

and God?)

Anxiety seeks control

(How do I make kids into

Christians?)

Youth MinistryYouth MinistryContemplativeContemplative

Love brings creativity

(What’s the fresh way in which God

is challenging us through our youth?

Anxiety seeks conformity

(Are the young people meeting

our expectations?)

Love rests in relationships

(Who are the kids we’ve

befriended?)

Anxiety rests in results

(How many kids have committed

to the faith?)

Love relies on guides

(Who has the gifts for living

alongside k ids?)

Anxiety lifts up gurus

(Who has the charisma to

draw kids?)

Youth MinistryYouth MinistryContemplativeContemplative

Love seeks questions

(What do you think? Or as Jesus

said, ‘Who do you say that I am?’)

Anxiety seeks answers

(Here’s what we think.

Here’s who God is.)

Love brings awareness

(What are the real needs of the

youth?)

Anxiety wants activity

(What will keep the kids busy)

"The young, with their strong "The young, with their strong loathing for the unauthentic, loathing for the unauthentic, quickly detect any dichotomy quickly detect any dichotomy

between the church and its between the church and its founderfounder““ John StottJohn Stott

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What might What might What might What might What might What might What might What might missionalmissionalmissionalmissionalmissionalmissionalmissionalmissionalresponse(sresponse(sresponse(sresponse(sresponse(sresponse(sresponse(sresponse(s) look like?) look like?) look like?) look like?) look like?) look like?) look like?) look like?

What do we need to explore?What do we need to explore?

SpiritualitySpiritualitySpiritualitySpiritualitySpiritualitySpiritualitySpiritualitySpiritualityFaith needs to be Authentic. ItFaith needs to be Authentic. It’’s 24/7 or 0s 24/7 or 0

ItIt’’s about experiencing and knowing Gods about experiencing and knowing GodThat fuels a wanting to know aboutThat fuels a wanting to know about

ItIt’’s about How it works for you and for me, s about How it works for you and for me, not abstract ideas of truthnot abstract ideas of truth

ItIt’’s about all of us learning, not just being taught s about all of us learning, not just being taught at! Listening, sharing, doing, reflectingat! Listening, sharing, doing, reflecting

Spirituality isnSpirituality isn’’t just words, itt just words, it’’s all senses and s all senses and action.action.

WhatWhat’’s right with what we are doing s right with what we are doing at the moment?at the moment?

•• CommunityCommunityCommunityCommunityCommunityCommunityCommunityCommunity•• All ageAll ageAll ageAll ageAll ageAll ageAll ageAll age•• The possibility of spiritualityThe possibility of spiritualityThe possibility of spiritualityThe possibility of spiritualityThe possibility of spiritualityThe possibility of spiritualityThe possibility of spiritualityThe possibility of spirituality•• A concern for young peopleA concern for young peopleA concern for young peopleA concern for young peopleA concern for young peopleA concern for young peopleA concern for young peopleA concern for young people•• Relationally basedRelationally basedRelationally basedRelationally basedRelationally basedRelationally basedRelationally basedRelationally based

A question of DiscipleshipA question of Discipleship A Mission strategy for the local A Mission strategy for the local churchchurch

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A Theological UnderpinningA Theological Underpinning1.1. There is a creator God who is on the move to find There is a creator God who is on the move to find

those who are lost those who are lost (Luke 15)(Luke 15)

2. God's heart is decisively compassionate towards 2. God's heart is decisively compassionate towards children and young people children and young people (Mark 10:13ff)(Mark 10:13ff)

3. God loves people enough to invade human history 3. God loves people enough to invade human history via the incarnation via the incarnation (Phil. 2:5(Phil. 2:5--11)11)

4. Followers of Jesus Christ are likewise called to love 4. Followers of Jesus Christ are likewise called to love and pursue those whom God loves, and therefore and pursue those whom God loves, and therefore called to "go" into the world of the young called to "go" into the world of the young (John 17:8)(John 17:8)

5. The message of the Gospel, focused on the 5. The message of the Gospel, focused on the Incarnate Word brings hope and healing to every Incarnate Word brings hope and healing to every person regardless of race, culture, ethnicity or age person regardless of race, culture, ethnicity or age (Romans 10:12(Romans 10:12--13)13)

Chap ClarkChap Clark

Youth Ministry Youth Ministry …………....

• is relationalis relational

•• is is incarnationalincarnational

•• recognizes the priority of Worship?recognizes the priority of Worship?

•• relies on the transforming power of Godrelies on the transforming power of God

•• Recognises that mission is holisticRecognises that mission is holistic

•• Is a longIs a long--term processterm process

•• Recognizes the importance of discipleshipRecognizes the importance of discipleship

Mission Shaped YouthMission Shaped Youth

What do we What do we What do we What do we What do we What do we What do we What do we teach teens teach teens teach teens teach teens teach teens teach teens teach teens teach teens when we are not when we are not when we are not when we are not when we are not when we are not when we are not when we are not teaching them?teaching them?teaching them?teaching them?teaching them?teaching them?teaching them?teaching them?