Big church (and my small mind)
Nineteen young people stood on stage clutching numbered DVD cases, a twentieth youth shifted his weight nervously in front of them, trying to decide what he should do. The auditorium was filled with a hundred more, moving their attention between the youth deciding or the large screen showing the possible prizes. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation and excitement.
I was impressed with the energy in the room. I was impressed with the attention of the audience and participants. I was impressed with the culture developed here - whenever things got to rowdy the leader or the youth themselves reminded each other of the importance of respect here with a ritual: say 'respect' while tapping your hand against your chest and then swinging your arm out with your two fingers in the "victory" sign and holding it up up for a minimum of 2 seconds.
But it was more than fun and games (though that did take up the bulk of the night), there was the announcement of an upcoming 'backyard blitz' 5-hour rennovation event for 4 local properties with encouragement of gaining sponsorship also; a segment where a leader spoke of the importance of standing up for what you believe in and having a purpose in life that will be of lasting value; and a visiting band which spoke and sang about thinking about what your life is going to be about.
It was a first time visit for a year 8 boy from my school, and he said to me "If God is real, I want to know what I should do about it" after being very impressed by the band that was visiting from Melbourne. I introduced him to one of the band members to talk about what was in his head at that stage.
Before leaving that night (I left at eleven, surprised that the evening would finish at midnight and then involve a bus trip dropping people home), I spoke to the main leader there. I continued to be impressed with what she said and the passion with which she spoke.
She talked about her surprise at being asked to be a full-time youth pastor wow when this church was planted; her loyalty to her senior pastor; her frustration, like so many rural pastors, with training youth and then have them leave for university elsewhere; of her own disappointment as a youth member with the 4 different youth pastors coming and going just as she built trust with them; and the joy she experienced at being there for youth when the average parent only spends 5 minutes with their children in a week. Then she said it, "I'm not interested in just converts, I'm interested in making disciples."
I left saying how impressed I was with her and her efforts. I left without saying more about discipleship, because I felt I had already said too much about my 'christian ministry activities'. I didn't say more, because I didn't want to come across as devaluing her efforts. I didn't want to say more, because I was genuinely impressed with the night.
It was an impressive night, and an effective way of attracting some youth into a space where questions of their lives can be intentionally raised. Was there a certain sameness to the majority that were present, and certain types of youth not represented? Probably. Is it the best use of resources and efforts? I'm still unsure of that.
And some say if I'm unsure of a better alternative, why throw away something that works for the most part? Certainly the year 8 boy from my school benefited from that night.
But if discipleship is the key outcome...
I was impressed with the energy in the room. I was impressed with the attention of the audience and participants. I was impressed with the culture developed here - whenever things got to rowdy the leader or the youth themselves reminded each other of the importance of respect here with a ritual: say 'respect' while tapping your hand against your chest and then swinging your arm out with your two fingers in the "victory" sign and holding it up up for a minimum of 2 seconds.
But it was more than fun and games (though that did take up the bulk of the night), there was the announcement of an upcoming 'backyard blitz' 5-hour rennovation event for 4 local properties with encouragement of gaining sponsorship also; a segment where a leader spoke of the importance of standing up for what you believe in and having a purpose in life that will be of lasting value; and a visiting band which spoke and sang about thinking about what your life is going to be about.
It was a first time visit for a year 8 boy from my school, and he said to me "If God is real, I want to know what I should do about it" after being very impressed by the band that was visiting from Melbourne. I introduced him to one of the band members to talk about what was in his head at that stage.
Before leaving that night (I left at eleven, surprised that the evening would finish at midnight and then involve a bus trip dropping people home), I spoke to the main leader there. I continued to be impressed with what she said and the passion with which she spoke.
She talked about her surprise at being asked to be a full-time youth pastor wow when this church was planted; her loyalty to her senior pastor; her frustration, like so many rural pastors, with training youth and then have them leave for university elsewhere; of her own disappointment as a youth member with the 4 different youth pastors coming and going just as she built trust with them; and the joy she experienced at being there for youth when the average parent only spends 5 minutes with their children in a week. Then she said it, "I'm not interested in just converts, I'm interested in making disciples."
I left saying how impressed I was with her and her efforts. I left without saying more about discipleship, because I felt I had already said too much about my 'christian ministry activities'. I didn't say more, because I didn't want to come across as devaluing her efforts. I didn't want to say more, because I was genuinely impressed with the night.
It was an impressive night, and an effective way of attracting some youth into a space where questions of their lives can be intentionally raised. Was there a certain sameness to the majority that were present, and certain types of youth not represented? Probably. Is it the best use of resources and efforts? I'm still unsure of that.
And some say if I'm unsure of a better alternative, why throw away something that works for the most part? Certainly the year 8 boy from my school benefited from that night.
But if discipleship is the key outcome...
posted by Andrew Chua @ 1:07 PM
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