Part Two
Purpose:
Our desire is for shared dialogue between ministers and parents as we explore
together matters related to the larger Christian CULTURE, our particular CONTEXT
within this framework, and our intentional, specific COMMITMENTS toward a
healthy and fruitful Student Ministry here at West Houston.
October 5 - Gathering One: CULTURE.
“Getting a Feel for the (Spiritual) Neighborhood.”
November 2 - Gathering Two: CONTEXT.
“Comparing Model Homes.”
December 7 - Gathering Three: COMMITMENTS.
“Creating a Blueprint of Our Own.”
Notes from Gathering One
Culture: Contemporary Issues Re-visited
1. The Drop-out Statistic
“Where are our students?”
2. Systemic Abandonment
“How are our students?”
3. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism
“What are our students?”
1.
Explore ideas and possibilities
Explore
2. Experiment with methods and models
Evolve
Experiment
3. Evaluate alternatives
4. Embrace the best option
Embrace
Evaluate
5. Evolve into something better
Discussion 2
1. What is youth ministry?
2. What should be the over-arching goals of
a healthy youth ministry program?
Ministry Models:Student Focused
teens involved in every ministry
empower students for leadership
•
Outreach-oriented ministry with
designed for reaching new people
youth cohort
planting new church
1. What do you consider to be the STRENGHTS of each model below?
2. What do you see as the WEAKNESS of each approach?
Inclusive Congregational
Preparatory
Missional
Strategic
Ministry Models: Family Focused
Students
participate alongside adults, with full involvement
in all areas of church life.
with
purposeful integration of intergenerational and
family-focused events in each ministry.
acknowledging and equipping parents
as the primary agents of change in their students’
lives at every age level and within each ministry.
1. What do you consider to be the STRENGHTS of each model below?
2. What do you see as the WEAKNESS of each approach?
Family-Integrated
Family-Based
Family-Equipping
Ministry Models: Home &Church Focused
•
Emerging effort to nurture faith at home,
with the support and assistance of the church
in a complimentary role. Churches provide
training and resources to equip families who
teach and lead at home; churches provide
assistance and develop programming to
strengthen the “lessons” taught by way of
the nuclear family.
1. What do you consider to be the STRENGHTS of the model below?
2. What do you see as the WEAKNESS of this approach?
Faith at Home
Emerging effort to nurture faith at home, with the support and assistance of
the church in a complimentary role. Churches provide training and resources
to equip families who teach and lead at home; churches provide assistance
and develop programming to strengthen the “lessons” taught by way of the
nuclear family.
So, what is the answer?
Is there a perfect model for our ministry?
Is there a preferred model for our ministry?
Are you really tired and starting to get cranky?
December 7 - Gathering Three: COMMITMENTS. “Creating a Blueprint of Our Own.”
• Self-assessment of our particular context at West Houston. Assess data,
define purpose and direction for our Student Ministry, articulate initial
steps forward. ( “What is the BEST option for us at WHCC; what might
that look like?” )