Matt Chandler
Posted by Colston | | Posted On Wednesday, October 15, 2008
If you havent heard of Matt Chandler I would recommend you pod casting him! He tells it how it is... Obviously you cannot accept everything he says and believes however he is a great speaker and preacher...
This statement was in one of his messages in Luke. "Right action without transformed heart lacks joy and worship." This he says goes against what we were made for. When we do things without the right heart we are failing for what we are made for. Without the right heart the worship is wrong.
I just thought this was an amazing thought.
So here is the question and where I need some advice. I have two girls in my youth group who have just started coming about three months ago and they are awesome girls with energy that you want to show up regularly. There parents have been coming and are now serving in different ministries overall they are a great blessing to our church. The issue is this, they are both trying to make it into the National Honor Society and here in Cali that requires that you have no many hours of community service. They have tried to get involved with any ministry that we will let them because they want that time serving at church to count for their community service. The issue is that they want to serve during the times of youth group. They want to be involved with ikids during youth group on Sundays and AWANAS on Wednesday night which is also during youth group. The point is that they no longer come to youth group because they are serving some where. The girls are in 9th and 11th grade so they need to be in youth group.
Where I stand: I dont agree with letting them serve and not coming to youth group. I dont agree with letting them use helping in AWANA and Kids ministry as community service hours.
THE DELIMA: Since there are two services the family is very admit about going to big church together so they have now decided to go to first service so the girls can serve during the second service, which again removes them from youth group. Their parents will not let them go to youth group while they are in big church, they ALWAYS go to big church together.
SO... We have talked to the family about wanting the girls in youth group but they now have just told us they are switching to first service so this throws a wrench in the problem.
I would appreciate you advice... I know how I feel about it, i just have to communicate that to the parents and make sure the Senior Pastor supports my thoughts and feelings...
Let the suggestions roll!
This statement was in one of his messages in Luke. "Right action without transformed heart lacks joy and worship." This he says goes against what we were made for. When we do things without the right heart we are failing for what we are made for. Without the right heart the worship is wrong.
I just thought this was an amazing thought.
So here is the question and where I need some advice. I have two girls in my youth group who have just started coming about three months ago and they are awesome girls with energy that you want to show up regularly. There parents have been coming and are now serving in different ministries overall they are a great blessing to our church. The issue is this, they are both trying to make it into the National Honor Society and here in Cali that requires that you have no many hours of community service. They have tried to get involved with any ministry that we will let them because they want that time serving at church to count for their community service. The issue is that they want to serve during the times of youth group. They want to be involved with ikids during youth group on Sundays and AWANAS on Wednesday night which is also during youth group. The point is that they no longer come to youth group because they are serving some where. The girls are in 9th and 11th grade so they need to be in youth group.
Where I stand: I dont agree with letting them serve and not coming to youth group. I dont agree with letting them use helping in AWANA and Kids ministry as community service hours.
THE DELIMA: Since there are two services the family is very admit about going to big church together so they have now decided to go to first service so the girls can serve during the second service, which again removes them from youth group. Their parents will not let them go to youth group while they are in big church, they ALWAYS go to big church together.
SO... We have talked to the family about wanting the girls in youth group but they now have just told us they are switching to first service so this throws a wrench in the problem.
I would appreciate you advice... I know how I feel about it, i just have to communicate that to the parents and make sure the Senior Pastor supports my thoughts and feelings...
Let the suggestions roll!
Tough man. I would suggest maybe other forms of "community service." Maybe give them a paint brush and tell them to do work! Vacuum and decorate the youth room, set up the chairs, etc... If they are new believers explain to them you have a lot to share with them at youth group and part of growing into a strong Christian is bonding with the group and relying on them for accountability. So, maybe encourage them to come fold bulletins during the week for community service and drop the AWANAs or Junior church or whatever. Well, good luck, keep seeking God's approval and you'll be ok...let us know how things play out..c ya bud
Thanks for the input and advice!
Ill let you know how it unfolds
I agree with Jason in suggesting other forms of 'community service.' Especially if they are bent on doing it at the 'church building.' In my 9 years or so of youth pastoring, I too did not agree with using the church as a place of 'community service.' Unfortunately, the city and state does recognize it as a place of community service. They don't see the church in the Scriptural way that we do. But I also would advice you to not allow this matter to become a sinful issue of the heart. After much examiniation of my heart, I found too often that my true desire in situations similar to this one, was for a fuller youth room, not the true spiritual growth of the teen. Now, I'm not implying that that is what you're doing, but I am implying that it's a possibility and would encourage you to Scripturally examine your heart with hopes of finding no selfish desires. We have to ask ourselves, what is the biblical model for church youth ministry. There isn't one. Biblical youth ministry is 'children obey your parents', and 'do all things for the Glory of God.' If you remain committed to the sufficiency of God's Word and then carry that out by being Godly to this situation, hopefully the parent's will see an importance for their girls to be under teaching that places such a high value on the Scriptures that's contexualized for teens. I would encourage them a few more times to come to class...but not to the point of becoming a sinful heart issue for you and not to the point of becoming annoying youth pastor dude to them, but just simple encouragement to come. Soon though, just leave it at being Godly to the girls and parents, mailing them the same things you mail all the other teens, including them in events, and encouraging them in their commitment to the Lord when you see them. The parents may be right or wrong, but your job is to display a love for the Lord and a love for His Word and the best way to do that may be to let the parent's have their way in this one. Plus, a few months down the road, things may change. God is sovereign. Take care and keep up the hard work.
i love youre heart towards ministering to these girls and their families. i definitely dont have the experience, but since you opened the topic, ill gladly offer another perspective.
in order to keep from being redundant, ill simply second chris' advice, especially that "We have to ask ourselves, what is the biblical model for church youth ministry. There isn't one. Biblical youth ministry is 'children obey your parents', and 'do all things for the Glory of God.'"
on that level, i say: encourage the girls to follow their parents leadership and encourage the parents to be wise and godly in helping their daughters think through their responsibilities in church, school, relationships, and whatever else they find them selves in.
as their pastor, lead the girls to understand the biblical heart of service and reaffirm in them that more than acceptance in nhs, everlasting rewards are given to those who serve in Christ's name and for His glory (even though, this doesnt necessarily have to take place in youth group).
practically, that might mean that the situation itself doesnt change at all, but i think it does allow for growth throughout those two families.
ill ask our Lord to give you wisdom as you work through this one!