What’s the Latest in Youth, Children’s & Families Ministry?

1. What’s the Latest in Youth, Children’s & Families Ministry? Jonathan Kemp, Dir. AYCF Ministry Anglican Church SQ

2. Intro and Outline • 6 June 2014: Happy Qld Day! Happy D-Day(?) • 9-10.30: Danger Zone 1 • 11.00 – 12.30: Danger Zone 2 • 1.00 – 2.30: Resources and the Next Step • (Housekeeping)

3. Talking Circles • Circle: 1. Who are you, where are you based and what are your hopes for today? • 2. Briefly, what challenges are you experiencing in YCF ministry?

4. Say the Same Thing • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sP1DqyagXE

5. Dropping Out: Danger Zone 1 • Children  Tweens  Young Teens (c. 11 – 14) • Changing schools / changing lifestyle • Too busy / too tired • Wider range of options / worldviews / inputs • Physical / hormonal changes: rebellion etc

6. A Response: Here2Stay.org.au

7. Here2stay.org.au • Information • + Formation • = Transformation • We need to provide formative experiences on top of pure information. • Website suggests10 kinds...

8. Ten areas of Formative Experience we can provide (in partnership with families)

9. A Response: Here2Stay • The 10 areas are listed up on paper around the room. • Go to an area you‘re interested in. • Add a strategy for that area, or refine one that’s already there. Use pens and/or post-it notes. • The records will be turned into a Book of Proceedings to be distributed to you.

10. Case study: “Apprentices' Guild” (handout) • Which Here2Stay strategies does this tap into? • “Mentors and Life Coaches” • “Anchors / Rites of Passage”

11. Morning tea

12. Games with no materials • (See handout) • Lateral thinking problems: • “Every workday, a man goes home past the same three men. What’s his occupation?”

13. Danger Zone 2: High School  Uni • Why? • Transition out of school / home environment • 18+ = legally adult / more freedom • Driving so going more places • Experimenting with identity and the adult world • Wanting rites of passage: if we can’t or won’t provide them, someone else will e.g. Schoolies Week.

14. A Response: Stickyfaith.org http://stickyfaith.org/about-sticky-faith

15. Define “Sticky Faith.” Faith that is both internalized and externalized: Faith that is both personal and communal:  a faith that celebrates God’s specific care for each person while always locating faith in the global and local community of the Church. Faith that is both mature and maturing:  a faith that shows marks of spiritual maturity but is also in process of growth.  We don’t assume a high school senior or college freshman (or a youth worker for that matter) will have a completely “mature” faith.  We are all in process.

16. Sticky Faith’s 5G Gospel: • GOOD – We are created in God’s image, and God was pleased with humankind. • GUILT/GAP– Our sin, or our guilt, has separated us from God. • GRACE – God couldn’t stand that separation, so God sent Jesus that we might have real life in the present and eternal life with God. • GOD’S PEOPLE – We live in community, experiencing and advancing the Kingdom with our brothers and sisters in Christ. • GRATITUDE – We serve and obey (and practise Lent) not to make God like us more, or love us more, but because we’re so grateful for all God has done for us.

17. Strings Attached • http://stickyfaith.org/videos/strings-attached-sticky-faith-every-day-curriculum

18. 10 Tips for Starting a Sticky Faith Youth Ministry from Scratch • Gather a team and listen closely. • Try Appreciative Inquiry. • Consider creating a ministry rhythm rather than a ministry program. • Be careful not to over-program. • Prioritize mentoring. • Lean on parents. • Set a timeframe for your experiment, and follow through on evaluation. • Work closely with children’s ministry leadership. • Look for ways to integrate with “big church.” • Involve the students in what you create.

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

20. 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 • Protesting against injustice • Missional activities (bringing Jesus to life for others; building God’s Kingdom on Earth) • Mission Trips • Service Projects (building schools, etc.)

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

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

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

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

25. Why should families work and serve together?

26. 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 • Gives parents stimulus to talk about and teach values

27. Research also says...

28. 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)

29. 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...

30. 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)

31. 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)

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

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

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

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

36. 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.

37. 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?

38. 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!

39. 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 (Angligreen?) • 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

40. 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

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

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

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

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

46. Red Letter Christians www.redletterchristians.org

47. Australians Tim Costello Jarrod McKenna

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

49. Recap: PICS (formerly PINS) • A quick diagnostic tool for your parish: • Are your young people: • Participating meaningfully in worship and ministries? • Integrated (participating alongside other generations)? • (Doing) normative Christian things? • Having their own age-appropriate needs met with Sensitivity?

50. Let’s move! • [4 sheets: use post-it's etc]