A monthly message from Fred Lynch. Fred is the founder of GodStyle Productions, a ministry committed to changing youth culture. For more information on Fred, visit his website or check out his latest project, The Epic (the gospel of John translated into rap).
October 2006
Making Urban Disciples is not only a B-HAG (big hairy audacious goal, see the book Good to Great) but it is also a mandate that was given by Jesus (Matthew 28:19) so I really believe that it's a doable task. However when it comes to making disciples in the urban context of 21st Century living, we often lose sight of this mandate and settle for membership rather than discipleship, or worse: we expect new converts to make it on their own. Last month we dealt with the issue of making time to pour into students, and I'd love to hear back from you with some of your ideas for getting quality time with youth. This month we're looking at the dilemma of relationally going deep with students who live in a shallow world.
we often settle for membership rather than discipleship...or worse: we expect new converts to make it on their own.
In Philippians 2:2 Paul paints a great picture for an atmosphere that breeds great discipleship. In The Message translation it instructs us to find a way to become deep spirited friends: what a goal! Friendship that goes deeper than a social, cultural or even ethnic connection: a connection in spirit!
If you've tried to minister at this level with students and failed, let me address at least one pitfall and a possible solution along with a great resource that can help you succeed in following Jesus' discipleship model of taking a teen from follower to friend. John 15:15
Everybody in the deep end!
Here's the scene: you walk into the room and see students all around you, students who are like sponges ready to respond and soak up attention, humor, acceptance from anyone who will just give it to them. So you 'turn it on' and you're in your element. You begin to do what you do; you love, you listen, you laugh with and you identify with them. They begin to open up to you, leaving you felling like Sally Field at the 85' Oscars, "Oh you like me…you really like me!" Have you seen this scenario? Maybe you've been duped into playing the part like I have countless times. Although it feels so good to be loved and especially loved by the ones who love the love that you're loving them with...wait a minute! Before I sink into this quicksand of sloppy Agape, let me just say that it's dangerous to be the only one in your group that students want to connect with. Soon everyone will want to go to the deep end with you and frankly baby, you're gonna drown out there trying to hold everybody up! This is a tricky pitfall of selfishly enjoying being Dr. Feel Good or the Fairy Godly Mother and it's a false concept far from the loving leadership that students need. I'm not saying that you should close yourself off, but you have to spread the responsibility of connecting deeply with students out. Develop some leaders who can connect with youth (teach them some of your magic charm) and begin to divert students to your staff. Try this sentence on for size, "Oh you like graffiti art too? You should get with Andre, he still waiting for Beat Street 2 to come out! There he is; let me introduce him to you…" Now you know that felt good! Please remember to connect relationally with your core leaders and have your leaders connect deeply with more students.
FREDDIE FREEBIE:
I have a great offer that I'd like to help distribute this month. It's the first chapter of a new book out called Deep Ministry in a Shallow World by Chap Clark and Kara Powell. Whether you're struggling to make anything work in your youth ministry or finding that most things are clicking along, this book will help you develop a practical theology-to ask what is happening, what should be happening, and how you can make it happen. Each chapter is followed by discussion questions to help you process in a group or on your own. I'd encourage you to check it out and if you like it go and purchase a copy online. You can find it on my site www.godstyle.com and visit the download page and you'll find it along with many other goodies.
Sharing the gospel from 'Street to Street',
Fred Lynch III
GodStyle Productions
Fred Lynch is the founder of GodStyle Productions, a ministry committed to changing youth culture. For more information on Fred, visit his website or check out his latest project, The Epic (the gospel of John translated into rap).
