Practice Discipleship Spring 2012 Training

1. Practice DiscipleshipSpring 2012 Training Youth Ministry Events as Faith Formation – Part Three Processing Events and Connecting to Daily Life

2. A Quick Review… • Youth believe in God! Yay! So…now what? • Let’s deconstruct MTD in the lives of youth and challenge youth to experience Jesus Christ through authentic relationships and experiences that are rooted in sound theology and practices. • In Session One, we talked about the: Purpose of Events • In Session Two, we talked about how you: Prepare your Group for an event • Did you miss a trainings? Watch past sessions online at www.elcaymnet.org/ELCATrainingOverview

3. Session Three(What you are hearing today!) We will talk about how we help groups experience the work of the Holy Spirit in the midst of an event, and how to connect that event to their daily lives…and maybe even share it with others!

4. Events are opportunities for young people to disengage from the world around them so they can fix their eyes on Jesus Christ. Out of our comfort zone, we can see the world and ourselves from Christ’s point of view rather than our own.

5. Hand-HoldingandFinger-Pointing Spiritual direction often is considered one of the practices of communion, since the ultimate objective is not to offer moral instruction or pastoral care. The goal of spiritual direction is reaching toward oneness with God by discerning God’s direction for our daily lives.” -Godbearing Life, pp. 139-140 Hand-holding is ministry of presence… Finger-pointing is ministry of direction. Photo by Sam Mugraby, Photos8.org Photo by Sam Mugraby, Photos8.org

6. Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening) • Participation is ACTIVE • Experience the event fully • Observe what’s going on with the youth • Translate your experience into a story to share

7. Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening) • Participation is GENUINE • Expect to be transformed yourself • Be who you are

8. Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening) • Participation is COMPLICATED • This isn’t just a vacation, you know! • Full participation is hard work!

9. Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening) • Listening is ACTIVE • Listen with your ears • Listen with your eyes • Listen with your body • Respond with clarifying questions

10. Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening) • Listening is GENUINE • Listen because you care • Be open to the questions youth ask

11. Hand-Holding(Participation and Listening) • Listening is a DISCIPLINE • Part of listening well is hearing what is said • Part of listening well is “hearing” what is NOT said! • Listening is focusing on the speaker • Listening is hard work!

12. Finger-Pointing(Giving Direction) ? • Ask good questions • Make observations • Point to Jesus Photo by Sam Mugraby, Photos8.org

13. “WHEAT” It! • W = Where • H = Hobbies • E = Event • A = Acquaintances • T = Travel

14. Listening and Questioning Practice • The first person ASKS questions and LISTENS • The second person RESPONDS • The third person OBSERVES • Allow each person to rotate through the various roles. • Give the group members 5 minutes for each role.

15. Connecting Events and Experiences to Daily Life “The entire congregation makes a difference in youth ministry.” (p. 83, EYM) “Of parents who report that their faith is extremely important in their daily lives; only 8% of those parents’ teens report that faith is not very or not important in their lives.” (p. 171, EYM)

16. Connecting Events to Daily Life • Set goals for how your events can be transforming. • What kind of goals would you have for a weekly Bible study? • What kind of goals would you have for a summer trip?

17. Connecting Events to Daily Life • How will you communicate with parents about what was experienced? • You can never communicate in enough ways! • Involve the parents in your event somehow • Create activities for families to do together that support or extend the goal of your event

18. Connecting Events to Daily Life • How will you share your events with the congregation? • Worship • Written communication • Visual images around the church • Involve congregational members in events • Congregational mentors/prayer partners

19. Connecting Events to Daily Life • How will you intentionally share your event experiences with youth who could not attend? • Storytelling with purpose • Group building • Communicate while gone • Involve other youth, parents and congregation in planning

20. Managing Your Group During Events Some of these tips will apply to trips only, some will apply to local events as well. “When did we ever get the crazy idea that to make children do better , first you have to make them feel worse?” -Jane Nelsen

21. Managing Your Group • Cell Phones • Will you allow them? • How will you monitor their use? • What is the church’s liability?

22. Managing Your Group • Transportation • How big is the group and how will this affect the type of transportation you choose? • How will you separate groups into vehicles? • Will you/can you use transportation time as group building time? • How will you get back to vehicles? • Who will drive?What are your safety concerns? • How much baggage can youth bring?

23. Managing Your Group • Lodging • Where will you (and other adults) sleep? • What are the overall sleeping arrangements? • Safe haven/risk management policies

24. Managing Your Group • Food • How many meals? • Where do you plan to eat? • Will you give food money allowances or pay as a group?

25. Managing Your Group • Group Management • Small Groups with designated leaders • Covenant issues • How many sponsors do you take? • Come prepared with “back-up” • Make a ministry opportunity • Keeping track of your group

26. Wow!!! Now you’re ready to go!!!