?So, if the ?Zombie Apocalypse? occurs, what skills will you bring into the new future?
It was a confusing question. The family was sitting down for a picnic dinner and my young adult children were playing a game called Zombie Apocalypse. It was ?What can you contribute to the general good?? sort of game? which is not an uncommon young adult sort of question. What did zombies have to do with it? A staple of horror films, zombies are formerly dead characters walking this world mindlessly attempting to consume the life and flesh of the living.
My eldest daughter explained her understanding of the game, ?We?ve grown up with so many real-life villains ? from Columbine to the 9/11 terrorists to Hurricane Katrina to British Petroleum – that zombies pretty much reflect them all. The game reminds us that we must all share what we have with one another.?
The zombies of my own youth came to mind, the back-up dancers in Michael Jackson?s video ?Thriller.? As dancers they were choreographed to be slow and stilted in their gate, emotionless in their steps, and slightly menacing.
This summer, youth ministry programs around the nation will be taking young people off to summer youth conferences, leadership camps, and work-camps helping those in need. During these summer days, they will attempt to live out the model of the early Christian Community, devoting ?themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.? (Acts 2:42)
In these moments, they will experience the Church that Pope Benedict XVI discussed in his instillation homily in 2005. As a Catholic, I was emboldened when he proclaimed ??The Church is alive. And the Church is young.? As these young people return to their own church communities, this is a good time of assessment for us. Are they returning to a Church that is alive and young? Or might it scarily resemble the slow, lifeless, faith of the undead?
As faith communities, there are many things that we can do to ensure that the vitality and vibrancy of our Church.
> We must find more ways to inform, form, and transform the faith of parents. They are the first witnesses of faith for young people. Whatever kids understand about the Church was likely both taught by and caught from their parents.
> We must make a commitment towards greater inclusion of young people into the ministries of the Church, especially within our communal worship. We must work towards inclusion in our worship and engaging ?the life? of young people into it.
> When we do minister with young people, we must find ways to elicit their energy, passion, and skills towards making a meaningful difference in the world. Pope Benedict encourages young people to make ?definitive choices? regarding their lives and faith and we should do the same.
As Church, we need to recognize that young people are fully ready to engage against that which is perceived as assaulting civilization with hostility towards human life. Young people must recognize the Church as alive and young; we cannot risk sending them the perception that we are a lifeless zombie culture.
From their summer experiences, hundreds of young people will be returning to parish pews this summer and will look at the Church through new eyes and ask ?What can you contribute to the general good?? Our response must match the rhythm of their lives, expressive in our response, and slightly reassuring for the future. Let us consume the fullness of life together with the One who came who that we might have life more abundantly. (John 10:10)
D. Scott Miller is the coordinator of adolescent Faith formation for the Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He blogs at www.catholicYMblog.com
I’ve been a little crazed of late and haven’t given the blog the time it deserves (I have some fun posts coming very soon, including my Comic-Con wrap-up), but for now enjoy this bit of Summer Happiness.
There are a lot of changes happening in our student ministries right now. In the midst of the crazy summer so many other components are moving in different directions. Many of the changes are great, and needed. And it will be exciting to see how God will unfold all that we have been praying for. But there are a few changes that I (as the wife) do not like so much and don’t understand. It is these changes that I don’t know what to say, and not say, and just what to do. My pride wants to shout at my husband, “Hey, did ya think it all through? Are ya real, REAL sure about that one?!” And my favorite, “Listen to me, listen to me, just listen to me!” BUT…..I know I shouldn’t.
I don’t know if I’m alone on this one, or what?? Anyone else fear change as much as me? I totally trust my husband and his call to this ministry. I do believe he is brilliant and gifted and a wonderful leader. Buuutttttt, what do you do when you don’t agree with it all?? Nothing? Pray? Vent, and visit this site?
I did take a big step (for me) this weekend. Our Pastor asked us to choose one area in which we would come to God daily for the summer and ask his guidance. I was certain that I was going to ask for wisdom concerning all these changes happening for us [...]
Here’s just a few things I did in the last 2 years:
All this and my wife still likes me. That’s amazing. Well, I think that’s a testimony to the type of wife God has given me!
But the truth is my family and I need a break. I’m not burned out, but I don’t want to be either. I try (key word there is “try”) to keep up on email, Facebook messages, twitter mentions and DM’s, blog posts and comments, on and on. I think these things are ultimately helpful and I plan on continuing this part of my ministry. However, Sunday afternoon (after teaching at Colossae) I will be completely disconnecting from all these things for the next two weeks.
I’m going on vacation with my family. I’m not bringing my computer – I won’t even open it. I didn’t even want to bring my cell phone, but my wife talked me into that in case we happen to need to get a hold of one another. I’m sure it will take me 4-5 days before my brain shuts down, but I’m praying it will. I want to take naps, play with my kids, laugh as a family, and spend hours upon hours putting together Hello Kitty puzzles, building forts, and having tea parties with my girls. And I’m really looking forward to sitting outside, enjoying the beautiful Oregon summer weather, with my wife after our girls are asleep and just talking for hours with her – and not about ministry stuff.
I want and need to disconnect entirely. I have a lot to do before I get there, but I am looking forward to this time. See you August 2nd…
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Summertime is in full swing, and Doug, Matt, and Josh are joined with week by Cathy Fields, sitting in for Katie. After recapping summer camp (and sharing some great ideas), the team discusses your questions. ;Topics include: not having enough leaders for camp,
I am having a hard time this week dealing with the disappointment that comes with ministry…especially ministy to girls. For the last 6 months I have walked with a girl to help her make a good decision about her future and in the last week she chose differently. And I keep giving myself a pep talk- I know God can use any situation or relationship to change a life/lives but this week I am feeling the pain of disappointment. And trying to be the “grown up” in thesituation…
Students don’t always chose God or his ways.
Students don’t always listen to our advice.
And some days, it feels like a total bummer. Today is one of those days.
God is faithful. God is one who calls us to ministry. God is the redeemer.
I believe that even today.
No? I told you to! Go to www.simplyyouthministry.com and get a download of “Meet the Prodigals.” ITS ONLY 9.95!!! How wrong could you go?Read the post before this one for the reaons why.
Here’s areafewpromised programming ideasthat work great for small (or large) groups:
1) Prayer Stations – the story is full of multi-sensory moments. Set up stations where your kids can touch, taste, smell, hear, see parts of the story. Ideas could include a carrying a heavy suitcase, hands prints from a mud pile, taste a party cake, something that smells REALLY bad…you get the idea. Prayer stations work really well for small size groups because it doesn’t matter how many kids participate. Its all about them one-on-one with God anyway.
2) Rings on the finger: After the son comes back home, the father gives him the family ring. Have a “Come to Jesus” time and make rings available as a memory-maker from the night. To top it off, use a father-figure dressed in costume to place the rings on each student’s finger.
3) Music choices: SO many good songs to fit this theme like Daughtry’s “Going Home” or “???” (What WAS the name of that song from Thursday night of Workcamp? Just can’t think of it now but I’ll get back with it.) And of course, there’s thedrama so many youth groups are doing now, “Everything” by Lifehouse. Good stuff.
There’s 5 Sundays in August and 5 segments [...]
Tonight I’m teaching a short parenting workshop at my kid’s school and I’m super nervous about it. I really don’t like putting myself in the position of “expert” of any kind, so I’m hoping to present in a way that communicates that I’m just a struggling parent myself! I’m trying to create a series of “pictures of parenting” that I’ll work through. I’ll update tomorrow with an honest report of how things go tonight.
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Praying for you.
Hey Kurt. I struggle with this idea all of the time. Although I’ve been working with teenagers for 16 years, I’ve only been a parent of teenagers (2 currently, and 2 more on their way) for 2 years. What a huge difference and frankly, I’m scared out of my mind!
My strategy? “I’m figuring this out right along with you guys and have found some amazing resources. Here they are.” This usually gets a good response, and more importantly, healthy engagement towards fantastic conversation which usually breeds better ideas than what I came to the table with originally. I LOVE the ministry of the Holy Spirit! Paul Baldwin