tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549085961019690214.post4303140276952217042..comments2011-11-03T18:12:31.003-04:00Comments on Christianese Radio Blog: The Dangers of Youth GroupJoe Harrisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03420930916767113650noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549085961019690214.post-81410819245960183672011-11-03T18:12:31.003-04:002011-11-03T18:12:31.003-04:00Amen!! So encouraging to see this!! I will be pass...Amen!! So encouraging to see this!! I will be passing it on!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549085961019690214.post-22678548173483136812009-11-23T18:27:05.308-05:002009-11-23T18:27:05.308-05:00I'm a leader at a youth group... not the Youth...I'm a leader at a youth group... not the Youth Pastor, but one of the staff members. Don't feel obligated to drive all the way across the country on my behalf. :)<br /><br />One thing my pastors (youth AND adult church alike) are always saying is "Anything you create, you have to sustain. Anything God creates, He will sustain." The more you bring people to a church or kids to a youth group by program and entertainment, the more program and entertainment you'll need to keep them coming back. But preach the truth, and it will grab them and keep them coming back.<br /><br />That said, I don't see anything wrong with playing games at youth group, or having a "cool" pastor... it just shouldn't be the focus. In fact, there can be benefits to both.<br /><br />A couple examples. An icebreaker game can be a great way to start off the meeting. It gets people loosened up, and makes sure everyone knows any new people, and builds relationship between teens.<br /><br />Also, the pastor of the youth group I help lead is also very "cool". He worked at Guitar Center for years. He has dreadlocks (tasteful... not HUGE). And this gives him street-cred, which is important in Tacoma, WA. There are people that we simply WOULD NOT reach in the community if he looked like a "normal" youth pastor. They'd shut him out before he had a chance to demonstrate the gospel, much less SPEAK it to them.<br /><br />But again, this MUST NOT be the focus. You need scriptural teaching at the core. If your ministry is not bible-based, and saturated in prayer, it is ultimately doomed to failure.<br /><br />It's amazing the doors that "being cool" can open, if kept in context. We are currently, as a youth group, in the process of opening up an all-ages concert venue based out of a rented space in our church building. This is one of our youth group's outreaches (not funded by the church).<br /><br />The goal is to get the kids of South Tacoma into a safe environment where we can just live out our faith with them and get into their lives. We won't get up and "preach", although every one of us volunteers are deeply rooted in God. Rather, we'll live it, and speak when we're in the kids lives. Actions speak so much louder than words, and we want to speak the love of our Savior in a tangible way to the community... to the kids who would never set foot inside a "church".<br /><br />That ministry would be impossible without the confluence of both being cool and being rooted in scripture and prayer. So, long story short, "coolness" and entertainment are nothing if you're not earnestly seeking God. But if you are, they can be powerful tools in His hands. Scripture and the gospel are KEY.<br /><br />Thanks for staying with me for this whole rant, and God bless. :)<br />-Matt "Welldigger" Dupea<br /><br />P.S. Feel free to read this in the podcast, Joe, if you think it would add anything to the show. Or not, if you don't. :)Welldiggerhttp://www.facebook.com/welldigger?ref=profilenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549085961019690214.post-12116648175962408692009-11-22T21:33:02.240-05:002009-11-22T21:33:02.240-05:00*Cough cough* And um, Joe- well done ;-)*Cough cough* And um, Joe- well done ;-)ISRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02446932992151612866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549085961019690214.post-22930596823166636512009-11-22T21:32:25.166-05:002009-11-22T21:32:25.166-05:00Dooglio sire, that was awesome.Dooglio sire, that was awesome.ISRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02446932992151612866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8549085961019690214.post-27674898888579410132009-11-22T14:43:04.987-05:002009-11-22T14:43:04.987-05:00My thinking is that yes, if you don't cater to...My thinking is that yes, if you don't cater to what attracts them, you will lose "market share." But I do remember someone in the New Testament tearing up a market place....hrm who might that be? :-)<br /><br />Teach what you believe. Never deviate from that for *anyone* for any reason! Bravo!R. Douglas Barbierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02702394504378377999noreply@blogger.com