"DANGEROUS MINDS".

[symphony1]

My fiance and i just took over the youth ministry in our church because of the lack of interest in them in the church, so since we have a passion for young people we decided to take interest in them. At first we thought that this was going to be a blast but now we feel like we are actually the teacher in the movie "DANGEROUS MINDS", one friday we had an open forum were the kids can speak, they spoke their minds and some of them had me asking "WHICH PART OF HELL DID THEY COME FROM ". THEY ARE PATENTING AFTER THE LIVE ONE WAY IN CHURCH AND ANOTHER WAY OUT which is becoming common in most churches and sad to say is starting to rear it's head in our church among most of the people there. In one of our first meetings all of the young people committed their lives to Christ and to become Holy and Pure but it has become hard for us to encourage them to live a Holy life since when they leave church it's whole different story when they get home...

Has anyone ever had the same situation in their youth group, or can you give us some ideas on who to deal with this..or how to have a more effective, life changing youth meeting

tiffany

 

[DIVA_for_Christ]

My fiance and i just took over the youth ministry in our church because of the lack of interest in them in the church, so since we have a passion for young people we decided to take interest in them. At first we thought that this was going to be a blast but now we feel like we are actually the teacher in the movie "DANGEROUS MINDS", one friday we had an open forum were the kids can speak, they spoke their minds and some of them had me asking "WHICH PART OF HELL DID THEY COME FROM ". THEY ARE PATENTING AFTER THE LIVE ONE WAY IN CHURCH AND ANOTHER WAY OUT which is becoming common in most churches and sad to say is starting to rear it's head in our church among most of the people there. In one of our first meetings all of the young people committed their lives to Christ and to become Holy and Pure but it has become hard for us to encourage them to live a Holy life since when they leave church it's whole different story when they get home...

Has anyone ever had the same situation in their youth group, or can you give us some ideas on who to deal with this..or how to have a more effective, life changing youth meeting

tiffany

I’m new in Youth Ministry as well. From what you’ve shared, what you are experiencing is your eye’s have been opened to the true condition of our youth in general. True ministry has it’s rewards but it is ugly to the core.

This generation is hurting bad. We didn’t get to this point over night with every generation pulling further away from God, the enemy has deceived us even more.

Whatever you do, don’t give up. That’s that problem with a lot of youth ministries. Once one of the youth act up by saying something that is appalling, the youth worker will throw the towel in.

You have to first allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you every step of the way. You need to be willing to be open and honest with your own personal struggles that you faced and how God changed your life. The church needs to understand that young people can read through phoniness in a heartbeat and they will test and try you to the extreme. But once they see that you are sincere in heart and motive, their heart will start to soften and one by one, in God’s timing and in God’s way, they will start to open up.

Go to www.battlecry.com I have the book and I have not finished it yet but from what I have read it is awesome.

We are in true spiritual warfare and the youth need us to not give up on them. If we do, we give up on our own future.

 

[Gentle]

""WHICH PART OF HELL DID THEY COME FROM ". LOL
These kids sound like me when I was young and in my teens. I wouldn't give up b/c too many people gave up on me, labelled me, so I left the God trip. Everything was so difficult to express back then for me and always came out the wrong way but I did LISTEN. I did go through a very un holy phase for, oh at least a decade but never forgot what others said who were trying to help. Now to this day I still have their words with me and can hear it with clear perspective. Even one word can break through a cacophony of anger and make a huge difference..just not always visibible externally.

peace
Andrew

 

[rodimus321]

Dualism is a hard thing to deal with. I have struggled for years with my students, I want them to make the right choices so bad and when they don't I take it personally. I am starting to realize though that I can only do so much, at some point they have to take ownership of their faith. God can use me to give them the tools they'll need in life, but it's up to them to use them.

Check out http://www.youthspecialties.com they have some great stuff. They are always up to date on anything youth. Particularly look at Postmodernism in the articles section, I think it will help you. I also recommend the following books:

Help I'm a Volunteer Youth Worker
The Core Realities of Youth Ministry
My First Two years in Youth Ministry
Purpose Driven Youth Ministry

 

[YouthDirector]

Another awesome resource is "Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers)" by Chap Clark. He took a year off and went and got to really know the teenagers. Check out: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/discerning/hurtchapclark.html. Check out your local area for a Youth Pastors group, if there is one they are a wonderful resource.

If I can be of any assistance, let me know. God bless. I am praying for you.

Because of Him,

Terry

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

 

[godcenteredlife]

A sign of a good Youth Leader is that when they leave that ministry...the seeds they have planted stay strong and the ministry still grows and lives after they leave....
Our church is very much the same as your church, we had a great youth pastor and an awesome bunch of young people...Or so it seemed....After the youth pastor left, so did many of the youth! It turned out that the Youth Pastor was really the only thing holding everything together...the kids came to see him and have fun..not to actually learn about God. He was well meaning..yet his ministry of 10 years collapsed after he left!
It really helps to have a 'Young' youth pastor. Building strong relationships with the youth OUT of church is a great way to help them stay on track with God..Youth these days want to be with the "Cool" Crowd...and church often doesn't seem "cool". I often used to look at other youth groups that were succeeding and I wondered why....Once I started asking questions..I realised that Youth Group wasn't just confined to Church or the Youth hall...It was everyday, every weekend...OUT of Church...They find it hard (Youth) to lead a God Centered Life without having friends around all the time that are God Centered. School has it's Influencers..and often they arn't Christian. If you can organise stuff do do with your youth in the weekend..even it involves just mucking around at the beach..kicking a ball around..You'll notice a difference in the youth...They will more often than not become more open to you..talk a lot more about problems and lead a more God Centered Life! Time is of an essence! If you Youth at your church is large in numbers...Get help! Get other young adults to gather a small group around them..and encourage them to just hang out! Remember before you do anything - Pray!..

God Bless
Chris from NZ