Comments on: The Future of Student Ministry? http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/ Trying to be strategic. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:42:47 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Kari Byrd http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6518 Kari Byrd Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:13:18 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6518 Reminds me of Young Life. I always liked meeting in different homes. Reminds me of Young Life. I always liked meeting in different homes.

]]> By: Alden Ellis » Check it out! http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6517 Alden Ellis » Check it out! Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:45:43 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6517 [...] about some of the things that they are trying! I look forward to seeing how it all plays out! Also here is a post that Tony Morgan wrote about what we are trying in [...] [...] about some of the things that they are trying! I look forward to seeing how it all plays out! Also here is a post that Tony Morgan wrote about what we are trying in [...]

]]> By: Jeff Sanchez http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6515 Jeff Sanchez Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:50:29 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6515 I've worked in youth ministry for a while now and have noticed the need for making disciples more than anything else. Youth ministry is usually very program and adrenaline driven, yet what is needed is intentional and relational disciple-making. The goal is to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples. The method that you guys are trying out is great and has worked for us in the past. The non-threatening environment of a home vs. a church provides excellent opportunity for the Christ follower and the outsider to connect in a neutral environment. It is great to see youth ministries who aren't afraid to try something other than what has been done before! I’ve worked in youth ministry for a while now and have noticed the need for making disciples more than anything else. Youth ministry is usually very program and adrenaline driven, yet what is needed is intentional and relational disciple-making. The goal is to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples.

The method that you guys are trying out is great and has worked for us in the past. The non-threatening environment of a home vs. a church provides excellent opportunity for the Christ follower and the outsider to connect in a neutral environment.

It is great to see youth ministries who aren’t afraid to try something other than what has been done before!

]]> By: Jordan http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6516 Jordan Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:05:17 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6516 This is a great article from the current issue of Christianity Today about David Gibbons. He decided TRANSITION his whole church into a similar model instead of entering a building program. http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/003/7.72.html This is a great article from the current issue of Christianity Today about David Gibbons. He decided TRANSITION his whole church into a similar model instead of entering a building program.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2008/003/7.72.html

]]> By: Alan Stoddard http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6514 Alan Stoddard Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:30:48 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6514 I've watched youth ministry in a few churches now. Most of those have involved using a program approach. I like this approach. I think it looks more like what Jesus did with the 12. It's going to produce an atmosphere for discipleship and will transform lives. To use Thom Rainer's idea, it's going to make the church "essential" for students. I’ve watched youth ministry in a few churches now. Most of those have involved using a program approach. I like this approach. I think it looks more like what Jesus did with the 12. It’s going to produce an atmosphere for discipleship and will transform lives. To use Thom Rainer’s idea, it’s going to make the church “essential” for students.

]]> By: Dave Harder http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6513 Dave Harder Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:23:19 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6513 Sounds like you guys are asking the right questions and because of that have developed a strategy that is going to impact a generation. I can't help but think this could be a strategy for "church" not just the youth ministry. You are on to something here... Sounds like you guys are asking the right questions and because of that have developed a strategy that is going to impact a generation. I can’t help but think this could be a strategy for “church” not just the youth ministry. You are on to something here…

]]> By: Judy Gregory http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6512 Judy Gregory Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:06:34 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6512 Tony, while I totally understand it "feels" risky, I don't think it is. I think you're hitting a felt need with students ... big time! The 500+ weekly student ministries have their role (and I think I can legitimately say that), but it's kind of like making an annoucement on Sunday morning. When there is only 50, it feels like you're talking to me ... but when there's 500, it feels like you could be talking to anyone. That works better with adults than students. The only other "felt" need I know of is to serve. Crazy as it sounds, I know more students that will come out to an event that "feels like they are giving their life away" than to Six Flags. They really want to get out of the "church chair" (or in this case, off the couch) and do something. My guess is if you set it up right by strategically placing the magnet kids (the magnets with the athletes, gamers, girly girls, average kids, musicians, etc.), ramp up the veteran students, get your leaders at the curb and front door, shoot some hoops/throw a football/make something together in the kitchen beforehand, play your AMAZING video on a BIG screen, have Davey make the rotation to as many houses as possible and, of course, serve food ... you will be SHOCKINGLY successful. Sorry for the long post, I'm genuinely excited for you and your kids. Tony, while I totally understand it “feels” risky, I don’t think it is. I think you’re hitting a felt need with students … big time! The 500+ weekly student ministries have their role (and I think I can legitimately say that), but it’s kind of like making an annoucement on Sunday morning. When there is only 50, it feels like you’re talking to me … but when there’s 500, it feels like you could be talking to anyone. That works better with adults than students.

The only other “felt” need I know of is to serve. Crazy as it sounds, I know more students that will come out to an event that “feels like they are giving their life away” than to Six Flags. They really want to get out of the “church chair” (or in this case, off the couch) and do something.

My guess is if you set it up right by strategically placing the magnet kids (the magnets with the athletes, gamers, girly girls, average kids, musicians, etc.), ramp up the veteran students, get your leaders at the curb and front door, shoot some hoops/throw a football/make something together in the kitchen beforehand, play your AMAZING video on a BIG screen, have Davey make the rotation to as many houses as possible and, of course, serve food … you will be SHOCKINGLY successful.

Sorry for the long post, I’m genuinely excited for you and your kids.

]]> By: Lars Rood http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6511 Lars Rood Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:29:56 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6511 Got my start in youth ministry in a program that did this. We had students come from so many different schools and districts that the only way to make it work was to set up "Regional" youth groups in large homes in the community. It was a great way to get students more connected to the schools and community. That was 1996. It worked for us but there were problems too. We had students who had friends from other districts who wanted to be together on Wed nights so they would drive to different Regional events. There was also the difficulty of having students who connected with certain leaders want to go to other regions where they like the leaders more. High school students are so fickle that it's tough to have something that meets everyone's needs. We met twice a month in these groups and twice a month in small groups. Got my start in youth ministry in a program that did this. We had students come from so many different schools and districts that the only way to make it work was to set up “Regional” youth groups in large homes in the community. It was a great way to get students more connected to the schools and community. That was 1996. It worked for us but there were problems too. We had students who had friends from other districts who wanted to be together on Wed nights so they would drive to different Regional events. There was also the difficulty of having students who connected with certain leaders want to go to other regions where they like the leaders more. High school students are so fickle that it’s tough to have something that meets everyone’s needs.

We met twice a month in these groups and twice a month in small groups.

]]> By: Chris Surratt http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6510 Chris Surratt Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:29:26 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6510 Tony, We experimented with the exact same format this past year. It did not work very well for us. I will be interested to see how it goes for you guys. If you figure out how to do youth ministry well with multi-site, immediately write a book about it. Tony,

We experimented with the exact same format this past year. It did not work very well for us. I will be interested to see how it goes for you guys. If you figure out how to do youth ministry well with multi-site, immediately write a book about it.

]]> By: Tony http://tonymorganlive.com/2008/09/05/the-future-of-student-ministry/#comment-6509 Tony Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:22:58 +0000 http://tonymorganlive.com/?p=1891#comment-6509 Hmm... I'm intrigued and ask that you show results in coming months (both good and bad). I think small settings, raw community, and rebellion against insitution worked with Gen-X but we're finding the opposite true out here in So-Cal... Gen-Y wants the big bang, passion, and chance to unify for world change. It's easy for us Gen-X leaders to transpose what worked for us on the next generation and maybe that's why 69% of "the most spiritual generation in history" is walking away from what we're offering (Barna/Kinnaman). Praying for your launch and please keep us all posted! Hmm… I’m intrigued and ask that you show results in coming months (both good and bad). I think small settings, raw community, and rebellion against insitution worked with Gen-X but we’re finding the opposite true out here in So-Cal…
Gen-Y wants the big bang, passion, and chance to unify for world change. It’s easy for us Gen-X leaders to transpose what worked for us on the next generation and maybe that’s why 69% of “the most spiritual generation in history” is walking away from what we’re offering (Barna/Kinnaman). Praying for your launch and please keep us all posted!

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