Why is it that I love youth group until I sit down to try and have a lesson/discussion/talk with my kids. Even when I try to do somewhat “controversial” things (leading a discussion off of the temptation in the desert clip from The Last Temptation of Christ) - it just means absolutely nothing to the kids. The fact that they don’t remember anything you say doesn’t help motivate me to prepare very thoroughly for an engaging/life-changing time of sharing…yah. I loved the kids tonight - until I started leading the discussion. Then I just became “pissy” (acc. to one of my favorite 9th grade guys: “Why did you get pissy tonight?”).
Oh well; it’s all good because I’m half-way through a great book (and I just watched School of Rock). Open Secrets is Richard Lischer’s memoir of his first pastorate, in a rural country parish in southern Illinois. I love it. Partly because it’s just written extremely well - and partly because…well, hello! I’m working in a rural church in southern Idaho. It’s wonderful to read the true stories of a young Ph.D. student coming to grips with the fact that all of his academic prowess had not prepared him for the lives of ‘country-folk’ - it’s exciting to join Lischer on his journey. Lischer is currently Professor of Preaching at Duke Divinity School. If you are just entering ministry, it’s definitely a book to read - especially if you are working in small, rural churches.
Update
Just a note. Finished the book this evening (3/9/04) — and I loved it. Not trying to sound sentimental or anything here, but really, it was one of the only books recently that made me feel like I could cry at the end of it. Partly because I had entered into the story of Lischer and the Cana Lutheran Church (and the last chapter about his departure from the congregation reminded me of my upcoming departure from Wendell), and partly because I really just didn’t want the book to end. So…needless to say - READ THE BOOK.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
hey adam, nothing like a little reality!
reminds me of my favorite saying that i have used frequently in the last two weeks!
“ministry would be soo great, except for all the people”! or ” ministry would be so great, if you could get rid of all the people”!
actually, your words (sorry) won’t be remembered much anyway.
but those idaho kids will remember all the times you listened, hung out, went skiing, laughed, burped : ) etc!
you’ve made an impact with your life…so don’t worry about the words…
congrats to wendell’s bb team too!
love ya! lilly
I know exactly what your talking about. I am working on my certification to teach in the nyc public schools…some days i really wonder why.
it’s always better to raise the bar to a level that they might not achieve, rather than lower the bar so that everyone can hop over it. when you give a high standard it shows that you expect more out of them, and you trust them with deeper things. we have the interesting responsibility to love the youth where they’re at, but challenge them to move beyond that. keep up the good work.
by the way, what was your response to your 9th grader when he commented on your being pissy?
He and I have a really open relationship. I just told him that I was frustrated that they couldn’t just be quiet for 5 min to watch a movie clip and engage in a little dialogue after that.
I go to a rural church in Indiana, and used to be a youth group leader. I know what it feels like to have a group of disrespectful kids, seem like they’re wasting ALL of our time. I was FRUSTRATED. Well, I realised that(as was mentioned above) these kids were most touched by the personal time I spent with them, just being theri friend. I know they need more than that, but I’ll take what I can get, and give what I can give. For me, it is “talk” and opening up that has had an impact on them. And mostly my listening. As a 27 yr. old, I’m just a “been there done that” kind of friend, who can help a young person face a situation. I know how you feel.
Dude,
I always remember something that Yac said, Kids AREN’T disciples! They’re getting ready to learn to be. And unfortunately, the stuff that rocks your world doesn’t rock theirs. Simply cause they can blow it off and it won’t affect them.
Sorry. While lilly responds to you, I get the job of saying over and over again this same truth to her! It kinda blows. Some days it seems the Young Life folks got it right. I hope there are some youth ministry groups forming in the near future with in the emerging world so more people can vent and talk about this.
You’re on the right road, sorry for the road-grader size potholes!
Rob