As this
Youth Ministry goes forward we are attempting to
better partner with parents. I have said it before
and I will repeat myself, parents are the number
one influence in the life of a child. With that in
mind we are trying to create a youth ministry that
bridges the gap between family and church. My basis
for this desire is first and foremost God has
instituted the family to pass on to the next
generation that God is one, and what he has
accomplished in the lives of His people.
The goal in other words should not be to impress your children or anyone else around you with your ability to parent. Rather, your goal should be to impress ON your children the love and character of God.
I admit I am not a parent yet and so I do not understand what it takes to raise someone from infant to adulthood and the demand that it must have on a parent. But I am passionate about and I do know what Scripture calls us to. With that my hope is to connect, to begin to "Think Orange." The reThink Group is an organization driven to partnering parents and youth leaders together, church and family. In an effort to show the power of this partnership they use two primary colors that, when mixed, make a brighter, more vibrant color. The family, the color red for warmth, is called to love and demonstrate God's character through an unconditional relationship. The church, the color yellow, is called to illuminate the "Bread of Life" and point people to who God is.
When these two colors collide the result is a vibrant, much brighter color, orange.
What will this look like in our youth ministry? We will begin doing a few things differently. First, building a website of resources consisting of articles, Bible reading plans, website references, etc. Secondly, I hope to hold parent meetings during youth groups hours to discuss various topics from youth culture and its many facets, college prep, and discussion forums with other parents to connect, share, and pray. Thirdly, report to you, as a parent, what is being taught in youth groups and Sunday school classes. The purpose of this is to give you the opportunity to apply what is taught, to question, to discuss with your child what we are focusing on in these times of teaching.
My reason for the third application of thinking orange is due to the fact that at most a teenager will spend 2-3 hours a week at the church. However, the time spent with family at home is five times that. In one year the church has maybe 40 hours of influence in their lives. Parents on the other hand have over 3,000 hours per year. You have much more influence to apply the biblical truths we teach and show how those are lived out in everyday life. In the picture below, our ability to influence is limited to the orange ping pong balls, while you as a parent are compared to the number of white ping pong balls.
The goal in other words should not be to impress your children or anyone else around you with your ability to parent. Rather, your goal should be to impress ON your children the love and character of God.
I admit I am not a parent yet and so I do not understand what it takes to raise someone from infant to adulthood and the demand that it must have on a parent. But I am passionate about and I do know what Scripture calls us to. With that my hope is to connect, to begin to "Think Orange." The reThink Group is an organization driven to partnering parents and youth leaders together, church and family. In an effort to show the power of this partnership they use two primary colors that, when mixed, make a brighter, more vibrant color. The family, the color red for warmth, is called to love and demonstrate God's character through an unconditional relationship. The church, the color yellow, is called to illuminate the "Bread of Life" and point people to who God is.
When these two colors collide the result is a vibrant, much brighter color, orange.
What will this look like in our youth ministry? We will begin doing a few things differently. First, building a website of resources consisting of articles, Bible reading plans, website references, etc. Secondly, I hope to hold parent meetings during youth groups hours to discuss various topics from youth culture and its many facets, college prep, and discussion forums with other parents to connect, share, and pray. Thirdly, report to you, as a parent, what is being taught in youth groups and Sunday school classes. The purpose of this is to give you the opportunity to apply what is taught, to question, to discuss with your child what we are focusing on in these times of teaching.
My reason for the third application of thinking orange is due to the fact that at most a teenager will spend 2-3 hours a week at the church. However, the time spent with family at home is five times that. In one year the church has maybe 40 hours of influence in their lives. Parents on the other hand have over 3,000 hours per year. You have much more influence to apply the biblical truths we teach and show how those are lived out in everyday life. In the picture below, our ability to influence is limited to the orange ping pong balls, while you as a parent are compared to the number of white ping pong balls.
In
conclusion, to borrow from Reggie Joiner the
founder of the reThink Group, our perspective at
this youth ministry is summarized as,
"God is at work telling a story of restoration and redemption through your family. Never buy into the myth that you need to become the "right" kind of parent before God can use you in your children's lives. Instead, learn to cooperate with whatever God desires to do in your heart today so your children will have a front-row seat to the grace and goodness of God."
Many of the resources, articles, and tips have been adapted and borowed from other sources. Rather than reinventing the wheel we are aprtnering with other youth ministries to offer the best material.
"God is at work telling a story of restoration and redemption through your family. Never buy into the myth that you need to become the "right" kind of parent before God can use you in your children's lives. Instead, learn to cooperate with whatever God desires to do in your heart today so your children will have a front-row seat to the grace and goodness of God."
Many of the resources, articles, and tips have been adapted and borowed from other sources. Rather than reinventing the wheel we are aprtnering with other youth ministries to offer the best material.
