580 likes | 598 Views
Youthworkers Guide to Family Ministry. Chap Clark Fuller Seminary. Many claim it ’ s getting tougher to work with, much less parent, a kid today…. Cultural and Developmental Context. Even in the CHURCH. History of youth ministry. B. Philosophy of Discipleship.
E N D
Youthworkers Guide to • Family Ministry • Chap Clark • Fuller Seminary
Many claim it’s getting tougher to work with, much less parent, a kid today…
Cultural and Developmental Context • Even in the CHURCH • History of youth ministry • B. Philosophy of Discipleship • C. The structure of the church
THE Church’s ministry to families today… • Where are we now and why does it matter to “Family Ministry”?
The State of Contemporary Church Life • Change in child and adolescent development
The State of Postmodern kids: • skills needed for successful adulthood
The State of Postmodern kids: • ongoing adult support and guidance offered
The State of Postmodern kids: • skills needed • adult support
The State of Postmodern kids: “…These two trends have created a serious problem in our country, indeed a crisis.” Dr. James Comer, Yale University Carnegie Corporation’s Commission on Youth Development and Community Programs, 1989
The State of Postmodern kids: • skills needed • adult support
The State of Contemporary Church Life • Change in child and adolescent development
Sticky Faith: • Part 1: • The • BACKGROUND
Understanding growing up… The overall process
Understanding growing up… A Brief History of Childhood and Adolescence
When it comes to STICKY FAITH… Spiritual development cannot be separated from human development
Understanding growing up… The overall process Timing and duration
Understanding growing up… Why this matters… When is someone an “adult”?
Timing and Duration Puberty Culture Pre-1900 14.5 16 1970-1980s 13 18/20 11/12 mid-20s Today
Teenage brain “If you think of the teenage brain as a car, today's adolescents acquire an accelerator a long time before they can steer and brake.” - WSJ, What’s wrong with the teenage mind?“ Alison Gopnik, January 28, 2012
Understanding growing up… The overall process Timing and duration Changing Stages
Changing Stages 1930s-1990s Independent 14-15 13 18-20 Dependent Interdependent
Changing Stages 1990s-2000s Independent 14-15 19-21 12 mid-20s Dependent Interdependent
Changing Stages mid2000-Today Independent 14-15 19-21 12 mid-20s early-30s? Emerging Adulthood J. J. Arnett Dependent Interdependent
Understanding growing up… The overall process Timing and duration Changing Stages Society’s response to kids
ParenTeen: • An exponential loss of Social Capital from those who are necessary in the lives of our kids
Social Capital: • Robert Putnam (Harvard): • Social capital refers to the “connections among individuals, [including the] social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness…it is the idea that social networks matter.”
The loss of Social Capital… • Adults used to believe that all kids were their kids • Adults used to see their primary role as facilitating children becoming adults • Adults once saw kids as assets, not liabilities (they were worth the effort) • Adults used to “be there” for kids
The loss of Social Capital… • The rapidly increasing reality of • “systemic abandonment” • Even in the church…
The State of Contemporary Church Life • Change in child and adolescent development B. The fragmentation of the church
Cultural and Developmental Context The Fragmentation of the Church Y.M. Church
Cultural and Developmental Context The Fragmentation of the Church Y.M. Church
Cultural and Developmental Context The Fragmentation of the Church F.M. C.M. Y.M. “Church” Church W.M. C.M. W.M. M.M.
The State of Contemporary Church Life • Change in child and adolescent development B. The fragmentation of the church C. Contemporary approach to people in the church… Individual discipleship…
Cultural and Developmental Context • STRUCTURE of the CHURCH 4th grader 7th grader 10th grader Mom Stepdad
Church as FAMILY: "If we preach a gospel that neglects the welfare of the whole in exchange for the happiness of the individual, then the Church as a living, pulsing body is weakened as is the welfare of the family. We must recover the priority of interrelationships.” - Dennis Guernsey, A New Design for Family Ministry (99)
The “Youth Ministry Movement” has a history DEFINITION: “Christ and kids…that’s youth ministry, Jesus and kids” - Mike Yaconelli, Address at NYWC, 2003 GOOD: Focused, compelling, prophetic PROBLEM: What does it MEAN?
What we’re learning about lifelong faith “Love one another” (John 15) Safety and Gentleness (1 Th 2:7-8) Comfort, encourage, and urging as a fan (1 Th 2:11-12) Social Capital Family Support and Stability “Do not embitter” (Col 3:21)