Blog posts about youth ministry
We continue looking at some observations Renegotiating Faith highlighted its report. (Click here for Part One.) Young adults who went straight into postsecondary studies fared worse on all our measures of religious persistence than those who had taken a gap year. (p.11) I (Alvin) remember that in high school the big push was to graduate and go straight on to university. A gap year was seen as a form of
Stepping into another culture can have a profound impact on one's faith. For those who have grown up in a Christian environment, we can easily assume "this is what faith is". But when we step into another "world", our faith can be challenged ... and shaped for the better. Next week, a team of 29 students and leaders from four churches (First Baptist Church in Smiths Falls, Glen Acres Baptist
Sometimes, in the midst of leading a ministry, seldom do we get a chance to take a step back to see what's happening at that moment ... unless we intentionally do so. Whether we like it or not, things change and things evolve. But if we don't take that step back every so often, the changes/evolutions happen right under our nose. Last year, we launched the ministry audit. While it
Ask a church their definition of "youth ministry", you'll probably get a variety of responses. Many define it as a program where youth are the target audience. Others emphasize mentoring and relationships with youth. Recently, some are expanding it to be family ministries i.e. ministering to parents and their families. Over the last few months, I've (Alvin) recognized there is a distinction between youth ministry and a church's reponse to
In the next nine weeks, I'll be involved in 3 retreats, 1 leadership conference, organizing 1 Compassion Experience and a Raptors outreach event (plus we'll throw in 3 church consultations). This is our high season at CBOQ Youth. In the midst of the organized chaos, God gave me a reminder from a devotion shared by Gloria Stafford at our last Avalanche planning meeting based on Ephesians 3:14-21. The one phrase
One Baptistic value we hold is "association". While every church has its own autonomy and can individually discern where God is leading them, many congregations recognize they can't do everything by themselves. Even the formation of our area associations and CBOQ itself is based on this. Two specific examples of association are our CBOQ Youth retreats and Centre Court events. Retreats like Avalanche and Blizzard require a certain critical mass
As Advent approaches, I usually hear from our youth leaders this is one of the busiest times of year. (For us at CBOQ Youth, it's actually a slower time because no one really needs us.) While celebrations and other activities take time and energy to plan, I wonder if it becomes over-programmed. For instance, ask yourself some of these questions: As you enter December, do you feel more strained or
Last week, directors from our Canadian Baptist partners in youth and family gathered. These semiannual meetings aren't just to catch up. They are times to discern how we can come together at a national level with discernment from the Holy Spirit. CB Youth and Family's mandate is to advocate and make possible national and global synergies in the areas of youth, family and young adult ministry. Some elements that we
As soon-to-be high school graduates are looking at options after June, it can become a daunting task. Some are excited; others are filled with anxiety. As youth leaders, helping them to navigate this time is crucial in their faith journey. While each individual's situation is unique, there are some common elements to consider. What kind of vocation is God calling that person towards? What kind of pathway is God directing
Most of our church ministries operate with volunteers. Without them, many of our ministries would shut down. Many youth leaders have a problem recruiting volunteers. However, that's only one part of the puzzle. It's not just how to bring volunteers in service, it's also how you care for them. I've heard from some volunteers who feel they are essentially cheap (i.e. free) labour. Some don't feel appreciated or cared for.
