Pretty lofty, huh?  For years we have recognized the need and have tried to start program after program with the goal of encouraging a relationship between home and congregation with modest results.  The time has come to think differently about family faith formation, more holistically.

Permeating the discussions at the D6 Conference this year was the insight that the Schema (Deuteronomy 6) was not a program to be implemented, but a mindset, an ethos to become part of our DNA.  Many of the presentations revolved around this “easier said than done” notion.  It’s just that,  but it is the ONLY way we will truly succeed in partnering with parents in forming faith in young Christians.  And that’s what the “family assets” of the EYM study are really all about.   Churches who are constantly figuring out how to make this partnership a part of who they are.  They did this by intentionally engaging and including the single most influential people in the lives of young people…their parents.

Now I want to hear from all of you.  Is D6 a part of your (and your congregation’s) DNA?  What are you doing in your life and your church community to live out the Schema?

Jason Miller is a husband, dad and Christ follower who serves as Director of Christian Education for a congregation in Apollo Beach, FL.  He has been engaged in Children’s, Youth and Family Ministry for over a decade.

Here’s how D6 connects with the EYM study results.  While the EYM study doesn’t give a lot of information about the faith formation that takes place in the homes of the students in these exemplary congregations, it does tell the story of churches who made notable strides in supporting parents in their role as the primary shapers of the faith of their children.  The parents reported that they got it, and it helped.

The conference not only did a great job of holding that focused support as a God-given pattern, but providing lots of step-by-step how-to’s related to the hard work of changing how churches think about what we do.  More than just naming it family ministry, or handing out obligatory family devotions for people to throw away on the way home, the conference worked hard to find leaders who were bit by bit changing the cultures of their churches, and asked them to talk about the new support systems for parents that they are putting in place for faith formation to happen outside the walls of the church and instead in cars and family rooms.

Most profound, however was the way that Doug Field’s(founder of Simply Youth Ministry) talk at the conference challenged leaders to LEAD with this commitment themselves.  To live a spirituality of God’s activity in the every day of family life, and not just at church…..to be the kind of spiritual leaders in their own families who put attention to the spiritual formation of their children before the next event at church.  We all know that’s a part of the bigger picture here.  He named it.

Dr. Nancy Going is a 20 some year veteran of congregational youth ministry.  She coordinates the Distributed (distance) youth ministry students at Luther Seminary.  She did her PhD research by interviewing adolescents from the Exemplar congregations.  The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry book comes out this week.  Order yours here.

There’s the gear up for fall kick-off season, weekly program season, retreat season, confirmation season, summer mission trip season, and … well you get the idea.  There is an info meeting to go to, a deposit check to be cut, and facebook event page to click “maybe” on.   I am certain if you are reading this blog you can easily fill in the blanks of season upon demanding season in the life of a teenager today.

Because of this youth ministry often (and rightly so) tends to look for gaps or windows in those busy seasons to offer retreats, a weekly respite, or frankly make room to share the Gospel.   Either that or we find ways to invest in walking along side youth at their football games, or band concerts, lunch hours, or maybe the occasional 5^th quarter party.  I’m not suggesting we abandon all those tools, however I am suggesting that the EYM study and yes Holy Scriptures themselves call us to something more.

The EYM study reminds us that exemplary youth ministries nurture mature Christian youth who see God active in their DAILY lives, who spend regular time in the WORD through a personal devotional life, and recognize God has a purpose for them…today.  These markers go beyond mission trip week, winter camp, youth group night, or any other gap, window, or program wedge we can squeeze into an already packed schedule.

Isaiah 40:8 reminds us that “the grass withers and the flowers fade but the Word of our God stands forever.”  What red thread weaves through the youth ministry you lead or partner with that calls youth to be engaged by God’s Word that supersedes every season? As Isaiah reminds us, in the final analysis, God’s Word is the only thing that will last.  Can we retrain our radar from looking at gaps in a calendar to scan for opportunities to help kids pick up on the voice of God calling, inviting, and speaking to their hearts everyday?   Maybe we don’t need to start by throwing out all of our youth ministry seasons, but maybe we do need to start looking for relationships that can be the mixing boards that sort out the noise of busyness to hear God speak…everyday.

Jerry Watts is still serving as Youth and Family Minister in Plano, TX.  He’s been doing in youth ministry for almost seventeen years.

God used people in the past (see the Bible) and will use people now and in the future to further God’s kingdom.  There is no doubt that we are relational beings.  No matter what kind of personality we have, we need meaningful relationships in order to thrive in this life.  We need people in our lives who will “be Christ” to us.  Without relationships that are centered on Christ it can be difficult to center one’s own life on Christ.  Young people will search out other ways to fill that relational void.  No, I’m not just talking about “being nice to kids.”  While we should be nice to kids, we need to develop faith nurturing relationships with them.  And no, you don’t have to be “cool” or “relevant” to talk to a teenager, you just have to be real and genuine.  You don’t even need to talk much, just let them talk.  They have a lot to teach us adults.  Having this faith-filled support will equip them to walk in Christ’s footsteps into a new world when they graduate from high school.

The Exemplary Youth Ministry study looks at 44 assets that a congregation needs to be most effective in growing maturing Christian young people.  Check out #30-37.

30. Establish Adult-Youth Mentoring: adults engage youth in faith and life supported by informed leadership

31. Participate in Training: evaluate and equip youth and adults for ministry in an atmosphere of high expectations

32. Posses Vibrant Faith: youth and adult leaders possess and practice a vital and informed faith

33. Competent Adult Volunteers: foster authentic relationships and effective practices with youth within a clear vision strengthen by training and support

34. Establishes a Caring Environment: provides multiple nurturing relationships and activities resulting in a welcoming atmosphere of respect, growth, and belonging

35. Develops Quality Relationship: develops authentic relationships among youth and adults establishing an environment of presence and life engagement

36. Focus on Jesus Christ: the life and ministry of Jesus inspires the ministry’s mission, practices, and relationships

37. Considers Life Issues: the full range of young people’s lives is valued and addressed

Do you know teenagers at church, in your neighborhood, at work or in the community?  Do they know you support them?  How have you been called to “be Christ” for them?

Tom Schwolert is Director of Youth & Family Ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Flower Mound, TX and has over 22 years of youth ministry experience.

What is maturity anyway?

Take a look again at the characteristics of a spiritually mature youth from the EYM study.

• Demonstrates a Personal Spirituality
• Believes God is present in the world
• Acts out of a commitment of faith
• Is active with God’s people
• Possesses a Positive, Hopeful Spirit
• Lives out a life of service
• Lives a Christian moral life

I agree that just getting our heads around the notion that Youth Ministry is about maturing Christian young people is challenging.  It is challenging for 2 reasons:

1^st it can mean all kinds of changes in the “how” and the “why” of what you are doing as someone connecting with young people.

But 2ndly, it means being mature yourself.  Right.  Maturity.  Spiritual maturity. “But I don’t want to grow up,” I whine.  J

One way I long to be mature is in my personal spirituality.  Let’s just take one aspect at a time. How about prayer?  I’ve always prayed for young people and continue to, but now I want to pray with young people and alongside them.  Their prayers move me deeply.  She’s not a high school student, but a former student here at Luther Seminary shared this prayer on her blog and now I’m praying it along with her.  Join us.  Surrendering to God’s mercy is a great place to start.  May we all find hope when nothing in the past points towards hope.

Gracious God, beckon us into your widening, foolish mercy, a mercy that finds its grounding in your cradle and cross.  A mercy so tender that it teaches us to hold our gladness lightly and to find hope in our grief when it stutters wildly.  Amen.

~Prayer of the Day, Mercy Seat, 7/18/2010

Nancy Lee Gauche worked in Children, Youth & Family ministry for 25 years.  Today, she is program associate for the Center for Children Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St Paul, MN.

Luther Seminary has been committed to sharing the findings of the Exemplary Youth Ministry Study to as many people as we can for almost five years now. We, at Luther, have been doing this in many ways, including developing workshops, websites, webinars and coaching congregations. Last year we made the decision that it was time to take the “workshop,” developed to help congregational teams think about the EYM findings through the lens of their own context, out to the church. And South Dakota was our first destination.

For almost two days, on a weekend in the end of July, 30 people from eastern South Dakota came together eager to learn. During our time, we shared stories, about young people and vibrant congregational life; we rethought what it is to be church in these days; and we focused on the call to join young people and families in a journey of discipleship. As our time progressed, the posture of the participants shifted from taking in information, to imagining what it means to create a congregational culture of youth ministry, to brainstorming ways to move into such a new reality, and to networking with future long-term conversation partners. A new way of thinking about ministry with and for young people and their families was birthed, and hope was in the air.

When the three of us piled back into the van at the end, we did so with a sense of gratitude and humility. I am convinced that the findings of this study are challenging us, even forcing us, as leaders in youth ministry to look with new eyes at ministry with young people, and be open to new things. And as we do, our faithful God meets us and the Spirit moves among us, and we are not the same.

I am looking forward to seeing what God is up to in South Dakota in the weeks and months and years ahead. God has planted gifted and passionate leaders there, people that really care about young people and God’s church, and that are willing to find a new way forward together. May you too be so fortunate as to discover travel companions as you seek to faithful be in ministry with and for young people.

Terri Martinson Elton is the Director of the Center for Children, Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.  She has a PhD in Congregational Mission and Leadership and teaches youth ministry and other classes at Luther.

The Children, Youth and Family Ministry team at Luther Seminary is very committed to seeing the EYM results get pulled into the ministries of all kinds of churches all over the country.  To that end, we have been engaged in coaching processes for four years, walking alongside churches and helping them to take their current faith assets seriously, while they also identify and work to develop new ones.

We also just completed a weekend that we call EYM on the Road with a group of Lutheran Churches in South Dakota.  We are always amazed at the several things that happen when we put this study in front of people.

1. Just getting your brain around the notion that Youth Ministry is about maturing Christian young people is huge.  It means all kinds of changes in the way and the why you are doing what you are doing.  It takes a while to absorb and figure out what that looks like at your church.
2. This really changes the job of people working with youth.  The job is now to broker relationships between youth and other people in the congregation.
3. The EYM results and Faith Assets are actually remarkably freeing.  Youth Ministry is no longer about YOUR ability to attract kids.
4. The change that is necessary to put more faith assets into play at your church is a different kind of change than we gets packaged for us to buy.   That’s frustrating, but it makes all churches capable of making those changes.

Yep,  you and your church.  You can do it.

Dr. Nancy Going is a 20 some year veteran of congregational youth ministry.  She coordinates the Distributed (distance) youth ministry students at Luther Seminary.  She did her PhD research by interviewing adolescents from the Exemplar congregations.

Tom Schwolert is Director of Youth & Family Ministry at Faith Lutheran Church in Flower Mound, TX and has over 22 years of youth ministry experience.

A congregation often takes on the interests, style and passion of its leadership – namely the senior pastor as they are indeed the shepherd of that particular flock. Therefore it is critcially important that the pastor understand this changing culture of youth and household ministry so that they can articulate, support, and “preach” this shift. It makes an enormous difference in how effective a youth ministry leader can be.   In fact,  ten percent of the assets address the pastor:

Pastoral Leadership

1. Spiritual Influence: knows and models the transforming presence of God in life and ministry
2. Interpersonal Competence: builds a sense of community and relates well with adults and youth
3. Supports Youth Ministry: understands, guides, and advocates for youth ministry
4. Supports Leaders: affirms and mentors youth and adults leading youth ministry

The single investment of the pastor clearly multiplies in the life of the congregation.

Kristen Baltrum is a lives and serves in Longmont CO.

The truth is there are no easy answers and nothing really new under the sun.  In my context while we do less dodge ball then we used to, the red ball still flies.  The shift for us has been the investment in time into the lives of our volunteers.  We need to disciple Christian adults into mature Christian faith.  Share what that looks like (as the exemplary study describes for example) and then invite our leaders and families to first practice this path of following Jesus in their own lives.  Volunteer meetings are more about time in the Word, and sharing what’s going on in their lives instead of just covering the needs for the next event. (www.ymsp.org and their liturgy of discernment is helpful here)

Second, with our life teams (adults and families who commit to shepparding one youth to follow Jesus) our program formally prioritizes discipleship and incorporates that as part of our youth ministry DNA, we are only two years in – and only now seeing sprouts popping out of the ground from those seeds that were planted, it takes time and long term investment.  The point is to find a way to make it public (the priority of discipleship that is).

Third, we continue programming with excellence – rooted in God’s word, understand the language of culture, doing things that matter (like mission trips), and challenging youth to invest as leaders in that process. This step helps you keep your job and still work towards the larger goal from Jesus in Matthew 28 to evangelize and make disciples.

Finally, your ministry goes nowhere without the Holy Spirit.  Pray without ceasing.  In the office, with youth, with your volunteers, in your quiet time in the Word, in the shower, in your programs, driving to Starbucks, and in your Tuesday night meeting…PRAY.  Make prayer, fasting, and time in the Word part of your own daily routine as a leader and let that seep into the life of your ministry.  The prophet Zechariah 4:6 reminds us “it’s not by might nor by power but by the Spirit says the LORD”.  Nothing new under the sun, but a renewed call to be faithful to be sure – in the real world of youth ministry.

Jerry Watts lives to play dodgeball…er.. disciple youth and adults in Plano Tx.