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).
November 2006
My man Chris Roc (not the comedian that everybody hates, but a precious brother and urban youth worker out of Philly) came up with this antonym that is a perfect word picture for the work that God has called us to in making young disciples in the city: M.U.D. What more can you say? That's what we do! We all can see and feel the images that are provoked when we consider the day to day hands on work of fulfilling Matthew 28:19. In the next few months, I'd like to offer a series of tips and resources to help us all while we find ourselves in God's vineyard…while we are in the M.U.D.
our kids need not only the gospel, but a context as to how the gospel works in one's life
In a recent email, I was asked if I thought discipling urban kids was more effective than preaching to them. That's a really good question. Out of experienced reflex most of us will answer a resounding 'hecky-yea' because we know that our kids need not only the gospel, but a context as to how the gospel works in one's life and that's only given by sharing and opening a window into our lives' for them to see how this 'living for Jesus' thing works. See 1 Thessalonians 2:8.
Right now, almost 100% of discipleship mistakes are made because we live in a "hurry up" world and folks are used to 'instant' gratification. In fact, almost all "problems" with 'making disciples' can be traced back to one thing:
*Trying To Disciple Converts Too Fast*
Here's why:
Proper discipleship takes time…and lots of it. Now although it doesn't seem like it, but for the urban youth worker, time is their ultimate friend. We just use this tool called time the wrong way and find ourselves fighting against it rather than letting it work for us.
So here's a simple M.U.D. tip that will help you use your time wisely: Bring A Student Behind The Scenes of Your Ministry. Even when you're planning your studies, lessons or just hang out times, you're actually spending quality time so invite a student into your planning world (go on and let them see behind the curtain of the 'wiz'). You'll be surprised how much they pick up as they discover how much it actually takes to keep ministry fresh and alive for teens (and they might stop goofing around during your lessons and actually listen). If schedules conflict and you can't get as much time together, try planning online. Use your myspace account and go to your blog page and put in your plans for the next two weeks. Of course you know this means that you need to 'get' a myspace page if you don't have one. Don't worry, it's free and believe me: they need more people like you who love kids instead of the sickoe's. Just go to www.myspace.com and start an account. If you have any questions, email me and we'll walk through it together.
Another very important reason why trying to rush discipleship won't work is that we try to go relationally deep with EVERY KID WE MEET! Now I know that you are God's anointed man or woman for the hour full of faith and power, but the truth is that you can't go deep with every student. Just say this out loud and feel the stress roll off of your shoulders, "I CAN'T GO DEEP WITH EVERY STUDENT I MEET". We'll visit this M.U.D. tip next month so I'll see you then.
FREDDIE FREEBIE:
I have a great little e-book that I'd like to help distribute. It's called the Customer Evangelist and it's a secular view of the concept of evangelism. Not spiritual evangelism, they're talking about the evangelism of goods and products. I'd encourage you to check it out and as you read it, compare the customer evangelist to the average church member 'evangelist' and I bet you'll have a fiery message to help your disciples go out and make disciples! You can find it on my site www.godstyle.com. 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).
