Ok, there are still some who are having a hard time understanding missionality and how it fits into church.
Let me see if this works for you: We’re called to be Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13). Those two things are only effective/valuable when interacting with things – salt with food and light with darkness.
Let’s just take light for our example. If you have a flashlight you are shining it around in a well lit room, it doesn’t do much. However, if you are in a sealed off basement with no other light source, that flashlight – no matter how small – is going to be invaluable.
That is supposed to be each of us. The lost in our world are living in spiritual darkness and need light among them. Too often, however, we are more comfortable hanging out with people who believe and act as we do – other Christians.
So, if we are to be a light to the darkness, we can’t hang out with each other all the time (some of the time is good and needed) but we are going to have to go where lost people are hanging out and live out our genuine Christian faith in front of them.
By the way, this is not a sales pitch opportunity where we whip out a tract and offer them “salvation for the low, low price of submission to Christ” – as if that were a low price. Salespeople want something from you – your money. When we witness like sales people, lost and hurting people think that we want something from them – their time, their attendance at church, their money in offerings… who knows? They are hurting from all that is being demanded of them already. They don’t have anymore to be siphoned off by us. I know that’s not what we are trying to do, but it’s what they think we are trying to do. That’s what makes a difference.
We just can’t do it like that any more. Not if we want to be effective. We have got to get where lost people are living and talking so that we can join in.
When the “Theology at the Bottleworks” stuff hit the headlines (where The Journey, a church in St. Louis, was having a Bible Study in a micro brewery – their pastor, Darren Patrick, specifically said they were just trying to get in on the conversations lost people were already having in a place where lost people gathered) CB Scott told me that “back in the day” he would go into a bar and sit next to a guy who was trying to numb his pain and do the same thing. He thought the flap was a bit silly. I concur.
When it comes to teenagers, though, there are certain places where lost people are that they should be able to be a light, like school. I am FOR Christian kids in public schools for that very reason, by the way. My kids both know that they are to be a light to the lost kids around them. I know that they hear things they wouldn’t if they were schooled at home. That’s why I teach them to be the one that sets the standard and not the one who conforms to it. If I can’t correct the things that they learn at school, then I’m not a very strong Christian, anyway, and have no business being a pastor.
Other places, however, are not places I want to send my kids, like parties. No, not the birthday kind, but the tailgate of the pick up, out in the county with a cooler or a keg kind of party.
As a result, within youth ministry we create a safe place where lost kids can come to church and be exposed to the light. That’s why it is so important to do “fun things” that will create opportunities for conversations and relationships to grow. It is also why it is so important to have something worth giving when they get there. Game night should be a part of the diet, and not the main course.
Anyway, Youth Ministry has a “ya’ll come” aspect to it, if it is to be effective in reaching lost kids and not just sanctifying the kids of the current church membership. It is an Inverse Missionality, if you will. If we are going to be effective in having lost kids come to us so that they may come to the Lord, there are some things that the church is going to have to do.
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We are going to have to get used to kids with hats on in the church house – even during worship. If it was about our comfort, then we can ask them to take it off. They will, and they will get the message that they have to be somebody else if they are going to get along in church. Now, I am not a big fan of hats in worship, but I am a big fan of lost people getting saved and one is valuable and one is just my personal comfort. Before I go on, the hat thing is personal preference and the enforcement of it at the expense of the lost is the addition of laws to the Gospel. To me, it is our version of the Judiazers of whom Paul thought so little. Would he advocate that they “go the whole way” with the removal of their noggin just above the shoulders?
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Understand that kids are hard on property and lost kids are harder than most. Church kids are still kids, but, hopefully, their parents have done something along the lines of teaching them respect for property – especially property dedicated to the worship of God. (I know, all you missionals out there, church property is an entirely different issue. Just realize that most of the readers here are in traditional church models and it is an issue for them, even if you are in a storefront, school cafeteria or micro brewery.) Lost kids are probably coming out of lost homes and that means that they have probably not been taught our values. They can’t be expected to learn them first, either (see above). That means we are going to have to be willing to clean, repaint, fix holes, cover grafitti and love them anyway. The building can’t become our sacred cow that is more valuable than the souls of students. My uncle who pastors in Memphis has a school nearby his church and the kids were coming over to the church building and hanging out on the porch after school. Of course, romantic pennings of teenage love made its way onto the pillars. The church originally wanted to fence off the entire front yard so that the lost kids couldn’t get to the church. My uncle talked them out of it. His quote to me? “Nothing says, ‘Welcome’ like chain link.”
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We’ve got to give them their own space. It needs to be a place that they can feel at home in and that they know won’t be taken away from them. When we won’t let them decorate or play music that creates a safe, godly, teenage friendly place, we tell them we would prefer them be themselves somewhere else, and since we are doing the “ya’ll come” thing, obviously, this is counterproductive.
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Provide safe transportation. We are dealing with this issue ourselves. The stuff that drives Youth Ministry is often off campus, and many times out of town. If we are going to win these kids’ souls, we must send the message first that we value them. One way we do that is by showing that we value their safety. They may never really understand the value we place on their safety and they may well grate against us making them put on their seatbelts, but I can assure you that if we consistantly send them out in vehicles that break down, they will understand that they are not at the top of our priority list.
Disclaimer – For any church members reading this, I am not publicly advocating any particular way of dealing with our transportation needs. I am observing what I said to the church in our last meeting, the safety of our kids is paramount and whatever decision we make, we must get this right. I am advocating getting this right for the right reasons. :)
Anyway, after 19 years of Youth Ministry, I am about to wrap up my first year as a Lead Pastor. These are just a few thoughts that I have had brewing since the 80′s and since I am the “Pastor” now, I can say it without people thinking I am just defending myself when the kids trash the foyer.
[EDIT]
Just a couple of additions to my list.
5. As Jim said in the comment section, understand teenagers are going to probably look at Wednesday night worship as their primary worship. More on this in the comment section.
6. Along with safety in transportation, we need to be sure and protect our kids from predators. This is incumbant on US and no one else. Background checks and safety programs and guidelines are key. If you ever have an incident of predatory abuse, then you can be sure that your church’s reputation concerning that will be all over the community and you will struggle for decades to regain your rep – especially with the lost of your community who so often have an ax to grind with the church anyway. It goes without saying that if you don’t do your due diligence in protecting the children under your care, you deserve a negative reputation.
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Kevin Bussey
on May 29th, 2007
@ 7:37 am:
Art,
I agree about everything especially the “space.” Students need a place they can feel safe to share and discuss issues. We transformed the youth and children’s area in every church I’ve been in. We are in the process here. I even think it makes a difference with adults too. When I decided to teach a SS class some of our ladies made our room look like a coffee shop. You would be amazed how relaxing it is for people.
I think the big issue is getting lay people to feel comfortable building relationships with people outside of the church. We work on it in my family but there are walls put up by people because they know I’m a minister.
volfan007
on May 29th, 2007
@ 8:07 am:
art,
this is a very good post. it helped me understand missional more. i guess i’ve been missional for a long time and didnt know it.
but anyway, who is your pastor uncle in memphis? i might know him.
david….volfan007
Jim Stratton
on May 29th, 2007
@ 10:44 am:
Our youth ministry is doing well. We run about 50 kids on Wednesday nights. Our Minister to Families with Youth is terrific. Part of the “trick” is viewing youth ministry as an investment: Cost now, Payoff later. You are right on about what is necessary for youth ministry. Allow me to add one thing for you to consider adding to your list. Youth ministry may require that we be okay with the fact that our young people view Wednesday night (or whenever their primary gathering is) as their primary experience of church. They may (probably?) will not be in service on Sunday morning. Thank you for your service.
Jim Stratton
on May 29th, 2007
@ 10:54 am:
Art,
Allow me to suggest a fifth item to your list. We must understand that the primary expression of church for our youth may (will?) not be Sunday morning, but rather Wednesday night. Youth ministry is an investment: Short term costs for long term gain. Thank you for your service!
Art Rogers
on May 29th, 2007
@ 11:35 am:
Wow, Jim, you liked that idea so much, you suggested it twice. :)
In truth, it has been my experience that you are exactly correct in your assessment. Moreover, most of the churches that I have known have major problems with that reality. They want the younger generations to come and worship with them, to do it exactly the way they do it and to like it. That is just never going to happen. Blended services work only when everyone gives up personal ownership of the issues and puts their brothers and sisters before themselves.
David,
Please allow me a question of clarification. I was very interested to find certain areas of agreement between Robin Foster and myself when we had a chance to talk at the Conference on the Holy Spirit. I chalk that up to my own predispositions. Since you said that you felt like you were missional, would you support The Journey in going to the Bottleworks (microbrewery) and starting a Bible Study among the lost people there, since that is where lost people were meeting and gathering?
Thanks.
Art
volfan007
on May 29th, 2007
@ 12:50 pm:
art,
i used to go to the bars to witness to people, and like cb…i have sat on barstools and talked to people about the Lord. that was back when i was in college. i havent done that since becoming a pastor. i just havent felt the liberty to do it. while in ms, i lived near the casinos in tunica. i thought hard about starting a bible study at the casinos in an attempt to reach the workers. it never came to pass. i didnt follow thru with it. mainly, because i felt that a lot of people in my church would not understand. i didnt feel like i should shove it down thier throat, either.
i dont know all the details about the journey church in st. louis. it would be hard for me to comment on what they’re doing. are they drinking while having the bible study? are they just meeting in the building? are they having the bible study during open hours for the bar, or is it after or before hours? i mean, what’s the info on them?
also, who’s your uncle in memphis? what church does he pastor? my brother lives in the memphis area. i grew up mostly in the memphis area.
david..volfan007
Joe
on May 29th, 2007
@ 1:01 pm:
Art:
Thanks for vocalizing as a Senior Pastor what a lot of youth ministers wish their pastor could hear! It is just hard to get youth ministry out of your system (If that really even happens).
You are right on with the Wednesday night thing. Some churches are almost having to youth programs by default (Sunday kids and Wednesday kids). And most times that is their church experience.
And the hat story hits home. Everytime I talk about reaching students I think about the rural church in Kentucky that asked a student to remove his hat, with less than pleasant results. The youth pastor had been months trying to get this student to Sunday Morning services and the first Sunday he did, less than 5 minutes after his arrival, a well meaning elder in the church ask, no told, the student to remove his hat. The conversation wasn’t pleasant or holy, and all the youth minister that was across the room could do was watch this teenage boy get up and walk out of the church in tears. We all know that teenage boys don’t cry in public. But that is how the youth pastor found him on the front porch of the church. The student never darkened the door of the church again.
Lost students act lost. That is an amazing fact that we must remember. It is hard enough to gt students into the church. We as adults need to be open to doing whatever it takes (within the confines of the gospel) to keep them there.
Thanks for the insight
volfan007
on May 29th, 2007
@ 1:10 pm:
art,
i thought i might ought to add something about being missional. i try to encourage my people, and i have for years, to be salt and light out in the world where they live. and, i have coached little league everything….i’ve gone to pta meetings….worked in the concession stands at school ballgames….go to the local cafe’s and drink coffee with the local regulars….go to high school ballgames….go to most of the community shin digs and just hang out and talk to people….etc., etc. i do this to get to know lost people. to meet lost people. to be around lost people.
i try to encourage my people to do the same.
also, we have things at our church, and we try to invite people to come…wild game suppers…youth events…children’s events, etc.
is that being missional? is that what you mean by it?
david….volfan007
Art Rogers
on May 29th, 2007
@ 1:23 pm:
Joe,
I thought you might log in on this one. Who, in Youth Ministry, has not watched a well meaning senior adult instruct a lost kid to remove his hat? Certainly, in Kentucky for sure, it happens all the time.
David,
That’s what I mean by it, but we also need to vocalize it to the congregation and get them to take that next step of involving the church officially in the lives of lost folks – that casino idea was great! I wish you would have been able to do it.
The problem is that we have this idea that lost people will corrupt us and that we should isolate ourselves from them to prevent it.
As for my uncle, I am not sure he wants to involuntarily enter the blogosphere, so forgive me for not posting his info on the blog. I’ll email you.
Paul Burleson
on May 29th, 2007
@ 5:13 pm:
Art,
I’ll leave the serious disussion. and good it is, in the capable hands your commenters and yourself. I did want to tell you of a cute story related to me by a pastor friend who said it happened. I won’t check it out…it’s too good and I’d have to quit telling it if not true. :)
But I was told there was an old guy who was pretty caustic about behavior, especially young people and their behavior, who stopped a young teenager in church one day and said to him…”young man take your cap off while you’re in the Sanctuary.” The young man replied gently, “sir, my cap IS ON the Sanctuary.”
I think the young man, while lacking some manners of the culture of us older people, had more theology than did the old guy.
I thought that was good and if it didn’t REALLY happen…it ought to have. GREAT post.
Paul
on May 29th, 2007
@ 6:02 pm:
Let me add to Paul B’s story. In my previous pastorate it was not unusual for kids to be running around in the facilities. One older gentleman who was relatively new to the church was getting on to some of them when another older gentleman who had been there most of his life stopped him and said, “Brother, we let the kids run around in this church because we lived through a time when there weren’t any kids in this church. We’d rather have them here running around than not have them here at all.”
On the transportation issue we have chosen not to buy vans or buses. If we amortize the payments, insurance and maintenance for owning we’ve discovered it costs us less to rent. Our property insurance covers them on insurance and all we’re out is the rental and gas. And every time we rent one we’re getting a vehicle that is no older than a year or two at the most. I’ve seen lots of church vans that look like they’ve been to Baghdad and back and have driven a few as well. Late night stops at the auto parts store with a bus full of kids returning from Six Flags is NO FUN! And I’m sure the youth minister didn’t particularly enjoy being an auto mechanic at 10:30PM either.
Cyle
on May 30th, 2007
@ 3:25 pm:
This is a bit off (then again, so am I). I’m looking for a small group study about being / becoming missional Christians. Any suggestions?
Art Rogers
on May 31st, 2007
@ 9:11 am:
Sorry, Cyle. I was waiting for someone else to answer in hopes that they would have a suggestion. Unfortunately, while I can recommend several books, I know of know small group resources. Maybe we could petition Lifeway, and its newest administrative employee/resident missioligist Ed Stetzer, to oversee the development of some…