Thought provoker...
At a recent Team ASK (Team ASK is a Bath Youth for Christ, football project) planning meeting we decided to drop the 'Think Slot' (God-slot) for the rest of the term. This was in many ways a small decision but it was not taken lightly.
As we reflected on the past term we realised that it had become a little stale. Furthermore that perhaps if we were honest it had become more about imparting knowledge than allowing those listening the opportunity to encounter Jesus and explore a relationship with him. In its place we have decided to commit to pray for the lads every day and when we are with them to be available to take opportunities that God may present to be and share the gospel.
Perhaps sometimes, influenced by the target and outcome driven agenda of the world around us, certainly the youth work world, we can ourselves forget to think critically about how it has impacted our work. It is not that outcomes and targets are necessarily bad, but simply that they should never be the driving factor.
Can we get too caught up in the desired outcome of the cliché, 'giving the gospel' that we lose sight of relationship? Ironically, relationship with God is the heart of the gospel! In the last month I have been reminded through different opportunities that we need to be available for the opportunities God gives us to 'be' the gospel. We are called to take the opportunities presented, so that we may be ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5) in the relationship between God and the young people we work with.
In the latest issue of Youthwork Magazine (July 2008) there is an article challenging the reader to engage in proclamation evangelism, suggesting that perhaps many have dropped this form of evangelism in their youth work. The article suggests ways of re-engaging with this method of sharing the gospel.
This article raises lots of questions.
- What do you think?
- How do you engage in evangelism in your youth work?
- Do you rely only on proclamation of the gospel or do you think it is completely irrelevant for youth work today?
- Whatever you do, have you ever reflected on it?
- Have you ever asked yourself why you do what you do?
What do you think?
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