I've been thinking about the comment left on one of the posts which has been greatly received in helping me think about how we grow and become noticeably different to just a youth group.
At the moment we are just a youth group of a mixture of believers and those who don't yet believe, as far as we are aware. This for start creates some interesting challenges, how do you encourage those who believe to challenge their faith in the way they think and live whilst at the same time reach out to those who don't yet have an active faith, who don't quite grasp some of the basic principles of faith, so to ask them to live out lives transformed by Jesus is hard. If we want to see a community of people living out faith we need them to see how it can transform your lives. Inclusion is really important to us, not leave behind anyone yet not compromising on what we see this group becoming. I am increasingly encouraged to see the young people come and interact with topics they may not yet fully comprehend, my prayer is that not just the adult leaders but the young people with faith will help teach and demonstrate God's love to those others.
One way of including all in being outward serving is to take part in something simple which will serve our community. This has been a good thing to be thinking through, it is something they can all enter into, most have the ability to sympathise and have the willingness to make change to people who's lives are tougher than their own. There is a local charity in our area who give out food parcels to families and individuals who can't afford food. This may just be something we can tap into helping, by asking young people to bring food to go to the charity. It's a thought...we'll see if this is the right one!
Hopefully we can grow a community who seek to serve their communtiy, those who know God for that reason, and those others may find God through it
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6 comments:
Beckie, just wondered where you meet - hall, room, church, Costa Coffee? Are you relying on inherited church to provide accommodation? Do you envisage a time when you will be self-financing?
Yes, interesting questions. At present we are in a community centre in the Middle of a housing estate. A community church has been meeting in there but are moving out, however at present they are giving us the funds. As to how we become self funding I'm not sure yet, as to whether we need to is another question. The community church are happy for this to be a seperate thing with no limitations or connections, they are supporting us by providing accomodation but in no other way.
I'm just adding to this as you have invited me to and hope my comments do not cause upset to anyone - there are some things in the post that cause me to question ....
Some of the language gives away a certain motive, and I am not saying the motive is wrong, but I am raising questions that come from that.
The statement of the community being of 'believers and those who don't yet believe' challenges me because I am hearing that as 'the only way to belong to this community fully is by believing eventually'. What will happen to those who cannot or are unable or just will not believe? I wonder why your group have used this description rather than 'a community of believers and those of no faith' or something similar?
Later you write 'inclusion is important to us', but I would suggest that the the two quotes statements (inclusion vs not yet believers) don't immediately fit together. How can a community be inclusive and still have an expectation that everyone will opt in to a faith in Jesus Christ?
I am not disagreeing with you - just asking a question that I am also currently struggling to answer in my own situation. Inclusion is a word that I believe we don't always properly think through the implications of. I think we generally need to think through more in what areas e can be inclusive and if we can be inclusive across the board? An implication of the latter could well be allowing those of no faith to have a say in the agenda and teaching to the same degree to those of a Christian faith?
Further on your inclusion front - you mention 'leaders' and 'young people' which, again, goes quite against your inclusion criteria. Surely to be inclusive it should be clear that all are equal, all bring something valuable and unique and so all can learn from each other, including learning from those young people who do not have a faith.
Again ... not saying you are wrong here - how can I as an ordained Anglican in a cathedral that is awash with centuries of hierarchical leadership!?
The one area where I think I do disagree, though, is your idea on doing something of a serving nature together. I wonder, instead, whether the real way ahead in such a situation is worship which is authentic - and by that I mean worship that is not just lively and celebratory, but worship that is real and acknowledges the hope in God but also the crappy-ness of many of our real life personal situations - worship that shows how a faith in God makes a real difference,
I hope my random thoughts help you in your incredibly interesting and exciting journey - but then they may just be red herring distracting thoughts - and if so please just bin them!
Hi Beckie,
This is just a thought about how you go about engaging your young people in living out faith through service...
Rather than expecting them to go out and do something for the wider community straight away (which requires a certain amount of courage and confidence) how about constructing a way for them to serve each other - i.e. their 'local' community. You could draw out from this how you address needs, the 'buzz' it gives, and the need for it. It also provides a real example of how God works.
Just a thought...
Keep up the great work!
Pete
Thanks for all the comments, some food for thought, I shall digest it all and write some responses when I'm back from studying.
Beckie, Martyn Atkins in 'resourcing renewal' has a lot to say about community (as does Ann Morisy of course) but he gives a good example of inclusion of those outside the community feeling and being accepted as part of the active community even though they may not share the same faith. See especially p128 in the 2007 edition and Morisy in 'Beyond the Good Samaritan' pp6+7
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