Walk in the Wilderness

I have to admit that being here in the United Kingdom’s Post-Christian culture has been a great awakening experience for me.  I have been stretched in so many ways with my faith, with my philosophy of ministry, and how I want to follow Jesus.   The Gospel has not only become more clear to me; it has also become so much more vital to every aspect of my life.

I have been a Jesus lover for over 28 years.

I was raised in  a home with two parents that breathed the Gospel.

I was mentored by a paraplegic youth pastor that lived out Jesus so powerfully that his words, his love, his action reeked of Jesus.

I received my training for youth ministry and Biblical studies from Trinity International University…some of the best training for my profession.

For the last 13 years I have participated, served, and given my time, energy, and love to youth ministry, working with some incredible men that have been doing this for 20 plus years.

A lot of good has happened over those years.   Several people’s lives have been changed and impacted.   I have also seen my share of men and women eaten up and spit out.  I have seen student’s leave the church never to return.

All this to say…that was my training and experience to do youth ministry…in the States.  Today, the culture that I live in speaks the same language, share similar values, and even is part of the Post-modern era.  However, there are still words and phrases here in England that are vastly different.  There some major culture ideals that are not to be tampered with.  As for what age we live in, the UK is entering in the Post-Christian period.

I am currently working just outside of Bicester.   I oversee the youth ministry for the six villages of the Cherwell Valley Benefice.  In my nine months here I quickly realized that there is a great disconnection among the youth and twenty year olds with Jesus and the church.  I remember asking the ministry staff how many 13-25 year olds have deep faith in Christ…their response was maybe five.   Three have now moved away to go to University.

So where do I begin?  How do you start up an effective youth ministry when there are no Christian youth or students?  How do you even get kids who couldn’t give a rip about God to think about their need for God?  Who is going to help when so many people in the church are already committed to other ministries?

This has been my prayer…my cry to Jesus.

A couple weeks ago I decided to spend some time with my two boys.  We went geo-caching, a high tech treasure hunt.   Our destination took us all over the back roads.  Up and down hills.  Over a bridge and to this field where we parked the car.   We abandoned ship and grabbed are gear we headed off across the fields and into the woods.

For three hours we spent time together.  For three hours we laughed, we dreamt, and we fought off battle droids.  For three hours we looked for our treasure and found it.

The boys took a break and lay in the tall grass.  I gazed up into the sky and prayed silently “How do we make disciples when they don’t even care about you God?”

I sat there waiting for an answer.   I could hear the boys’ laughter and then I remembered a passage:

“Hear, O’Israel the Lord our God, the LORD is one.  Love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  These commandments that I have given you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.”  (Deut 6:4-9)

I then looked backed at my sons laughing and rolling in the grass shooting their nerf guns.   My heart melted as they said “Daddy thanks for spending time with us.”   “We love you dad”.  “This was a fun adventure.”  “Can we do it again?”   “You love us daddy?  Don’t you?”

I thanked Jesus for his timely answer.

So here is my thought.   To do discipleship in a Post-Christian culture I need to disciple teens as I do my own children.   Walk life with them.

My goal is to help my sons see God’s finger prints laced all over Creation.   My longing is to reflect Jesus in such a way that they see him and not myself.  My desire is that they see and hear on a regular basis how much daddy needs and loves God with all my heart, soul, and strength.   My hope then is at some point that the Holy Spirit wins over their tender hearts.

It is pretty much the same with teens and university students.  I want to do things that present natural teaching moments where I can point them to the Creator and the significance of our need for him.   By looking for the lessons in life situations I avoid being the “preacher.”   Lessons can be seen and heard in anything.  I agree with Rob Bell in saying “Everything is spiritual.”

I also want to invite these young men and women to participate.  I know with my boys they want to get their hands dirty.  My sons don’t want to just listen but they want to take action.   I am always looking for ways to put faith into motion.  Hands on experiences by serving the needy, mowing the lawns for widows, or taking care of the sick are great ways for young people to experience God.

Just as my hope and understanding that it is the Holy Spirit’s work that changes my boys hearts, I have to remember that it is God that transforms these teens.   Programs are good but they are not holy.  Events are fun but they are not always the most fulfilling or sustaining experience in a young person’s journey with Jesus.   Our role is to walk the road with them, love them for a lifetime, and be available.

So does it work?   Currently I am meeting with about ten curious teens/students on weekly basis.   I am seeing each student growing in so many ways.  It is slow.  But it is good.