Mission is about being real. Youth ministry IS mission because it is all about getting real with young people. You may think that all you are doing is having a gas with a bunch of kids but when you get real with them you are being a missionary. Are you getting real with them? What do I mean by getting real? Well mission is all about breaking down the barriers that separate a person from believing and have in faith in God through Christ. So when you turn up and are a friend and mentor to a bunch of geeky teenagers – you will be breaking down barriers. When you give them a lift home because it is raining and shout them a Big Mac on the way – you are what mission talk terms ‘incarnating the gospel’ – in real words – you are making it come alive before their very eyes. It is as if Jesus is right with them driving them home.
Everybody hates a phoney so it ain’t gonna work if you are one. Jesus wasn’t into phoneys either. That is why the Pharisees and Sadducees got hassled every time Jesus saw them. Read about the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17 and the guy in Luke 10:25. Basically both are told – forget it if you are phoney.
Of course an important part of getting real as a missionary is making sure there is some sort of proclamation (Footnote thingy). So dragging them by the hair down to the river to baptize them spitting and screaming usually doesn’t work. The most profound preaching usually happens when we live it.
Youth ministry as mission. We’ve got to get out there and get on with it. Living it. Being real about it. For our young peoples sake. For God’s sake.
See you at Connect
Love
Andrew
1. This is another flash word which means – letting them know that the reason you do it is because you have discovered the love and grace of God and you think it is so valuable that you want to pass it on.