Adventures in Book Studying - Episode 2

 Once again our intrepid little group of book studiers gathered this week to continue our look at Sustainable Youth Ministry. We even gained two new participants! The most important part of these chapters for me is the emphasis on attending to the atmosphere and climate that surrounds a youth ministry and the tips on how to do this.

While tangible organizational structure is important to a sustainable ministry, so is the more intangible reality of the climate or atmosphere in which that structure exists. A healthy climate promotes sustainable growth by putting in place conditions where that growth is easier and therefore more likely. DeVries compares it to the way a greenhouse creates an environment with the ideal conditions for plants to grow. Creating a healthy climate is about recognizing what factors are within our control and which aren’t (such as school schedules, extra-curricular activities, economic factors, etc.) To assess the climate of a particular youth ministry we ask questions such as: What are the attitudes towards the ministry and those involved? How is the ministry perceived both from within and without? Often times, the climate in youth ministry is one of fear of failure, anxiety and defensiveness. The pressure on those involved to meet high expectations can create a lot of stress. The feeling that this ministry is important combined with a lack of knowledge about how to make it successful leads people to feel that it is out of control. In a sustainable ministry, however, the atmosphere is one of excitement and creative engagement where people can see the fruits of their efforts and trust they are on a path forward together.

DeVries suggests certain actions that can be taken in order to create a sustainable climate for growth:

1 We deliver results.

·      One token success can be the tipping point that shifts or jump starts the atmosphere of a ministry.

2 We trust the process.

·      It takes a lot of time and effort, moving intentionally and intelligently in the same direction before visible results are produced. It is important not to get discouraged and stop half-way through.

3 We import joy into the chaos.

·      This is by far my favourite tip because I think it is about recognizing the limitations of being human and living in this world. It is about seeing grace and mercy at work in the everyday. It is about not taking ourselves too seriously and being a non-anxious presence.

4 We instill stories and metaphors.

·      I may have spoken too soon, because I also love this one. Stories and metaphors are a very Christian way of learning and understanding the world. There is a kind of truth that we can express better using story and metaphor than with straightforward explanation. Also, it points to the power of positive reinforcement instead of punishment and chastisement as teaching tools.

5 We embrace rituals and traditions, signs and symbols.

·      Wait, I was wrong again, as a liturgist this is definitely my favourite tip. Rituals and traditions connect us across time and space with a whole wider community, while being still linked inextricably with the now. In their relationship with our everyday life, they can give new meaning to the mundane, elevating it to a place of encounter with the sacred. They are about inclusion and belonging in a community and exploring the relationship between the identity of an individual and a group.