Alright, so I've been thinking, and I'm tired of doing big events. I'm tired of putting hours and hours of preparation work into a game night or an all nighter, broom hockey and gross out games. I'm tired of having a ton of kids show up to an event, most of which are from other churches, and then nothing change in my weekly service. Why do I have to do it? Where in the Bible does it say "Thou shalt have a big giant event that draws a ton of students?" I'm done, I'm finished with the big event. I know this might hurt the feelings of some youth workers out there, but I'm just speaking honestly when I say, I don't think the big event mentality and model of ministry is as effective as it was in the past. Granted I believe in fun and that is a valuable part of youth ministry, but I feel like fun can be had in smaller events, just as well as bigger events. What if we spent more time with smaller groups of students, than trying to spend a couple of hours a month with a giant group of students that you don't even get meet most of? Jesus didn't put on big events for His followers. He didn't spend time preparing and planning, He just did ministry and people came to join.
As the school year comes to end and I've planned my summer calendar, I look ahead to the fall and wonder what is the most effective way to do youth ministry in our culture? What's working, what's not working? Any thoughts?
2 comments:
Outside of camps, retreats, and mission trips I have moved to doing "organic" events. BBQ's, pool parties, dance parties, baseball, frisbee, beach trips, etc. Everything being "normal" stuff that people like to do together.
We are praying about starting a JH "church" near a local campus at a restaurant . . . it should be an interesting adventure.
I think you may be on to something. I think things that happen in more intimate settings work better and aren't as exhausting.
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