EXILE!
This morning I've been reading Daniel chapter 1 and reflecting on it's resonance to the extraordinary circumstances we are in today, so I'd like to share a few thoughts with you:
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Simon Hill Youth Officer
01905 732824
shill@cofe-worcester.org.uk
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Firstly, the Lord is in charge but sometimes he allows his work to suffer – this is clear in the first couple of verses. In today’s unusual circumstances we pray and seek answers to the question ‘What is the Lord doing here? How do we more fully know His truth through this experience?’ and we should be prepared for surprising answers!
Secondly, Daniel and his friends did not compromise on their faith, even in extraordinary times. They were expected to change their names and very identity but resisted. Through challenging times, our faith and sense of identity can be tested and feel incredibly weak, but ultimately it is strengthened. So be faithful in prayer that we might emerge as more resilient disciples! (see Kinnaman & Matlock’s book below for more on this re youth ministry)
Finally: “To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.” Daniel 1:17
May God grant you new and increased gifts, wisdom and vision at this difficult time; holding on to hope and being church together. Let’s seek the Lord’s heart in prayer and be prepared to innovate to serve our young people as best we can.
Below are some ideas and resources for your youth ministry and for yourselves. I’ll be sending out more ideas as they come in, so please be in touch with any of your creative ideas so they can be shared. We’ll be hosting some video meetings for youth and children’s workers over the next few weeks; let me know if you’d like to take part in those. Feel free to email and call in the usual way, and I can also set up skype calls if they would be useful. God bless, Simon
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Video conferencing your youth group
To enable interactive, remote youth group meetings you might want to consider using video/web conferencing tools like zoom. If you do, please download and read this document - I have prepared some guidance on how to do this safely and well. Please take the time to think this through and contact me if you need any further help.
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HTB in London have taken their youth group online, offering podcasts, live streaming and a YouTube channel. Click on the link above to see their site and get some ideas!
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This blog page has a whole host of links relating to digital discipleship in the local church. Worth having a look through for youth group ideas.
Below is a link to the YouthScape live blog page which will also be kept up-to-date with lots of ideas and sharing some good practice.
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Group Challenges
A wonderful colleague, Katherine, from the diocese of Leeds has put together some great ideas for photography, art, world record breaking and learning challenges to keep your youth group busy over the coming weeks. Download the document here.
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Host a NETFLIX party for your youth group?
So Netflix party is a thing! You can watch a film or series from this streaming service altogether while apart! As each young person watches they'll be able to comment and message each other throughout via the website. Take a look.
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Top tips from Ely diocese:
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The National Youth Agency have a great page on their website (click on the image), which offers advice for young people and youth workers. This will be updated as the situation progresses.
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Reading material...
This is a great time to catch up on some reading which might further inspire our ministry. A couple of apocalyptic offerings here?! I'm starting the Andrew Root book and would love to chat about it in a virtual if you're interested?
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“After half a century of advice books on the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of youth ministry, Root is the first practical theologian to seriously tackle the ‘why’ of youth ministry–why even do youth ministry in the first place? Using a Kierkegaardian fable as his foil, Root explores deficient ways we justify youth ministry, and then dives headlong into joy as the reason it matters. Root has made a career out of challenging the youth ministry industry, but this is his most important youth ministry book to date. The end of youth ministry? Hardly. This is where it starts.”
Kenda Creasy Dean
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Discover What's Working and Find Hope
Negative perceptions. Church dropouts. Prodigals and nomads. It's easy to get discouraged by all that's going wrong when it comes to Christianity and the emerging generation. Yet what's going right? In fact, signs of hope are springing up all around. In Faith for Exiles, the author of unChristian and You Lost Me unveils major new Barna research that uncovers what's working--five practices that contribute to resilience. Enter the world of resilient young adult Christians and learn how they are sustaining faith. Finally, you can find hope in all that God is doing among young disciples today.
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