by Jon Davis
Outreach and service are primary
components to a youth ministry. As stated in previous
articles young people
are crying out for a place to belong and in that a
sense of purpose and mission. We all need something
that makes our lives worthwhile. A major crisis of
our society is the whole issue of meaning. As we have
been taught to pursue wealth and power we are now finding
that these things will not meet our heart cry for purpose.
If we were to consider ourselves as being cars it would
be as if we were trying to find meaning in the accessories
(stereo, power windows, electric seats and such). That
is not the purpose of a car. A car is meant for movement
and that is where a car find it's greatest purpose
and identity. In the same way a person who's Christian
life does not reflect active serving, giving, sacrificing
is missing a major point of the Gospel. We are "born
again" for a reason. We are to imitate Christ
and to expend all of our energy on helping others,
being kind and merciful remembering that the greatest
one is the one who serves.
One of the most powerful pictures in the Gospel comes
from John 13:3-5 as Jesus washes the disciples feet...
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"Jesus knowing
(fully aware) that the Father had put everything
into His hands and that He has come from God and
was now returning to God, got up from supper took
off His garments and taking a (servant's) towel
He fastened
it around His waist. Then He poured water into the washbasin and began to was
the disciples' feet..." |
Servanthood is foundational
to being a Christian and should be a cornerstone
in what we teach and impart
to our youth. In youth ministry we need to "equip
the saints (our youth groups) for works of service" so
they begin to see that they are called to take care
of the homeless, feed the hungry, clothe the naked,
assist the widows and orphans, visit the prisoners
and to do these things in the power of the Holy Spirit,
armed with the love of God.
What is it in your
backyard that you can do to help others? What about
the people of your parish that have
needs (usually the very young and the very old), what
can you do to improve their lives and simply show them
the love of God? It is using what you have. It is turning
what might be a huge task for one or two people into
an event where your youth group gathers and does the
work in a tenth of the time. They have fun, build relationships,
and help someone out that increases their sense of
identity as a member of the body of Christ.
Tom Rutherford a fellow youth worker and good friend
shared an event with me that I think was one of the
best. On a youth group night he armed his kids with
buckets, sponges and cleanser and proceeded to clean
and disinfect the church nursery including all the
toys. He then sat the kids down on the nursery floor
and shared with his kids the cleansing power of the
blood of Jesus. What a lesson! He also shared at another
meeting that they gathered and simply made sack lunches
loaded up in vehicles went downtown in Nashville, TN.
and handed out the food to homeless people.
The idea is be creative. We
incorporated servanthood into our summer camp. Each
year we would take on a
work project at camp, something that we could do to
improve the camp's facilities. It was a great way to
spend a couple of hours. Working up a sweat is a great
way to get to know each other and besides you know
what they say... "Those that sweat together stick
together." Whether it is a mission trip overseas
or across the street there is something to be said
for rolling up your sleeves and "getting dirty" for
God.
A "48 HOURS" program about spring break
partying did a story about a local minister who got
creative in reaching the rowdy college students who
invaded their local beaches every spring. They had
free transportation up and down the "strip" to
keep drunk drivers off the road. They had tents set
up on the beach where they gave out free sun screen.
They did Christian sand sculptures on the beach that
had a message. In all of these acts of service and
mercy they shared the gospel and because of their actions
won the right to be heard.
If you want your youth group
to grow beyond the fun and games stage challenge
them to serve. Serving one
another is a great start. Looking out for each other's
needs, helping those in trouble, caring for the sick,
these things change lives. It takes time for people
to learn this especially kids. Adolescents by nature
are selfish and self centered. We as their youth pastors
have the responsibility to teach them to be selfless,
sacrificial and Christ centered. It is the type of
thing that a person carries with them all their lives.
It impacts them from the inside out. Servanthood brings
about a heart change in people and isn't that what
following Jesus is all about.
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