Social Action for Families

1. Jonathan Kemp Director, Anglican Youth, Children & Families Ministry Anglican Church, Southern Queensland WWW.AYCF.ORG.AU Social Action for Families

2. Outline • What? • Why? • How? • What Now?

3. What is “Social Action”? • An umbrella heading for: • Social Service activities (serving others) • E.g. Feeding the hungry • Sheltering the homeless • Comforting the lonely • Social Justice activities (fighting for others’ rights) • E.g. Raising awareness of issues • Political protest • Missional activities (bringing Jesus to life for others; building God’s Kingdom on Earth) • Mission Trips • Service Projects (building schools, etc.)

4. Why should Christians do it? The Lord’s Prayer: • “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.”

5. Jesus: Not an ally of the rich and powerful

6. The Sermon on the Mount • Matthew 5-7 • Matthew 25:31-46 (The Sheep and the Goats)

7. Other sources / reasons? • We are God’s hands, feet, etc. • If we don’t, who will? (Ever seen an atheist soup kitchen?) • Traditions / denominations

8. Why should families work and serve together?

9. Research findings • Research says it’s good for families: • Most kids who said they did at least an hour of service per week reported that their parents also did lots of service activities. • Makes ‘family time’ a priority • Reduces screen time • Builds and serves the community • Allows family members to see each other in a new light • Gives young people opportunity to lead • Stimulus to talk about and teach their values

10. Research also says...

11. Making Service Projects Worthwhile • “This is lame!” • Not if: • Young people do actual work, not just observe • Adults are accepting & don’t criticise • Kids have important responsibilities • Have a sense of making a contribution • Have the freedom to develop their own ideas • Have opportunity to reflect (debrief)

12. Before we even get started... • Think ‘Safety First!’ • Legalities and policies... • Due diligence... • Risk Assessment... • Age / gender appropriate... • Blue Cards / Food handling / Cash handling / safe environment / etc...

13. How do we get started? (1) • Be clear about expectations and roles • (rotate the leadership) • Develop a cooperative atmosphere • (no-one likes having their work criticised) • Train families • (provide the right gear; use expert trainers)

14. How do we get started? (2) • Create meaningful projects and activities • (meet genuine needs; use ‘mentor families’) • Offer options in terms of commitment • (1-3 hour jobs? A week for those with more time?) • Debrief the experience • (have a discussion time; pluses and minuses of what happened)

15. Supermarket Stake-out! • (Let’s try this process out...) • 1. Expectations and roles • 2. Good atmosphere  • 3. Gear • 4. Meaningful • 5. Options • 6. Debrief

16. Three levels for Service • 1. Church • 2. Local Neighbourhood • 3. State / National / Global

17. You tell me! Local Church • Some local Church projects that families could be engaged in:

18. You tell me! Local Neighbourhood • Service ideas:

19. Social Justice for Families • Real v. Realistic – realistic is OK. • Raising funds is a valid outcome • But education about the world is also important • Think about aligning with an agency (check its integrity etc) • Then decide which cause feels most deserving to you • No need to reinvent the wheel: look around at what other people are doing.

20. Stimulate some discussion... • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2p5svFJ9cQ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFuLSB73ciU(Refugee issue) • ‘Go Back Where You Came From’ (SBS) • Movies, TV, books... Talk about the issues (values). How should Christians respond?

21. Start to start... • 1. Determine greatest need (or your passion). • 2. Brainstorm lots of ways to help. • 3. Short list to 5 or 6 and look harder. • 4. Short list again to 2 or 3 and think about logistics. • 5. Pick one and do it!

22. Make it “Intergenerational” • Take existing service activities or mission trips, and ensure all ages are involved: • Food pantries and kitchens • Habitat for Humanity home building • Urban gardens to grow and distribute food • Yard work or home repair for homebound seniors • Leading worship or games at a retirement village • “Parents’ Night Out” (child-minding) for church or neighbourhood

23. Intergenerational Social Action • Baking bread and taking to shut-ins or new arrivals • Making cards and visiting a kids’ hospital, asking families what you can pray for • Graffiti / litter cleanup around your church neighbourhood • Intergenerational 40-hour famine • Sending care packs and letters to missionaries or deployed soldiers

24. Ask: “If one person can do it... • Could a family be doing it?”

25. Anticipating Objections • What could be some reasons for families not becoming involved in Service projects?

26. Q: Does becoming involved in Social Action... • imply a particular political party or stance? • A: No.

28. Americans Tony Campolo Jim Wallis (shredded Bible) Shane Claiborne

29. Red Letter Christians www.redletterchristians.org

30. Australians Tim Costello Jarrod McKenna

31. Resource: ABigYear.net • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATrvS0ba2qQ

32. What now? • Take a moment to reflect on: • What could you do to start taking Social Action, • or to • encourage • others to • start?

33. Thanks and every blessing... • “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

34. Even more ideas... Jonathan Kemp • www.aycf.org.au/get-involved/serving • Email: info@aycf.org.au • www.faithful-families.blogspot.com.au • (and see the Resource books available...)