Will you join me in praying for next week’s Youth Emphasis Week at the Mexican Baptist Theological Seminary?
We’re talking about how God wants to use current situations that we see as problems for future benefits.
We’re praying that this week will help the Seminary students to understand that the problems that they see in their young people come from numerous sources, but that God wants to invest in the lives of these young people so that they can glorify Him and advance the Kingdom.
I’d love to have your prayers for this week. It’s going to be exciting.
We did a survey of the Seminary students (and a current survey is up at our Spanish youth worker site) about the problems that the young people in their churches are going through.
I’m not sure what to make of this information. I just thought it was interesting to see the answers. It’s not a very scientific survey, but it helps me know what the Seminary students (not the YM students) are dealing with in their churches.
Also, the responses that are coming into the forum on our Spanish youth ministry site are a little different than those that the Seminary students gave. I’ll post those responses later.
Here’s how it went:
What problems exist today in the youth of your church?
They gave more than one answer on a sheet, so the percentages are per seminary student, not per total answers.
30 surveys given – 59 answers
Rebellion – 21 (70%)
Dating Problems – 14 (47%)
Sexuality – 8 (27%)
Alcoholism – 5 (17%)
Apathy – 4 (13%)
Drug Addiction – 1 (.03%)
They go with whatever teaching – 1 (.03%)
Commitment to discipleship – 1 (.03%)
Self-esteem – 1 (.03%)
Loneliness – 1 (.03%)
Youth leadership – 1 (.03%)
Nothing – 1 (.03%)
What are you doing about it?
Talking with them and their parents, counseling, Involving the family, Talking to them personally
I haven’t done anything yet, I don’t know, It’s not being dealt with, Nothing
Saturday mornings we have started some informal training for youth workers. Huberto is teaching the first series, and it’s cool for me to see one of my former students interacting and training others (2 Timothy 2:2).
Here’s a qik video of Huberto teaching the YM Goal statement: “Develop a vehicle (program) through which every adolescent will hear the gospel in a culturally relevant manner and have the opportunity to spiritually mature.” (That’s my rough English translation of what we use).
I love how passionate he is about training others. He’s taught in the bachelor’s program at the Seminary, he went with us last year to Boyce College’s Youth Emphasis Week, and he’s taken a major role in the Saturday morning training we have started.
Please pray that the ministry will continue to expand and multiply.
Youth pastors have tons of things to do. Sometimes, when you look at your calendar, you think, “How could I possibly fit one more thing in here?” I remember that feeling. I just had it this morning.
But it doesn’t take much to be a global youth worker. Here are some practical things you can do to think globally as far as youth ministry is concerned.
Participate personally in missions (more than just with your group) – YMI is always looking for people who are interested in teaching courses in one of our seminary programs. You can contact us for more information.
Teach your students about missions.
Read biographies of missionaries and use them as examples in your teaching.
Keep up to date with current missionaries by reading their blogs. (Check out missionary-blogs.com for a list of missionary bloggers.
Take short term mission trips with your group. (Interested in coming to Mexico? Contact us.)
Learn about other cultures and expressions of Christianity.
Develop relationships with international missionaries and youth workers.
Give to missions – books, money, resources, etc.
Minister to international students in your area.
Donate your time and talents to missions. There are a lot of things you can do to help the cause of Christ overseas. Get on board with what you’re good at.
If you’re interested in training youth workers internationally, please contact me or leave a comment. Youth Ministry International is constantly looking for international trainers, and I’d love to talk to you more about the opportunities there are all over the world.
Graham Browne from Mobileyouth.org published this presentation of 50 Youth Marketing Trends for 2009. It is focused on people marketing to young people, but it is relevant for local church youth workers as well.
A few of my favorite thoughts:
Let’s get it in our heads that youth don’t wake up thinking about our brands.Let’s get it into our heads that they don’t wake up thinking about our youth ministries, programs, or latest sermon.
What am I if I’m not here to serve my customers?Shouldn’t we be serving the students in our ministries, too?
Drivers: Can you help me be significant? Can you help me belong? These are the two timeless and culturally independent requests youth have of your brand. These two things are fundamental and thought about constantly by our students.
Your young customers don’t care that you know unless they know that you care.This is an oldie but a goody. How much do we actually care?
What other trends mentioned in the presentation do you think are relevant to youth ministry?
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