Thoughts on the Shift Conference
This past week I attend the Shift Conference up in Chicago at Willow Creek. The conference for me was a highlight on a number of levels. Getting the chance to bond with our team as well as being inspired and educated about new “shifts” in student ministry not to mention the chance to network with others and time away to reflect all combined to make for an incredible week of learning and growing. I came away with pages of notes and many ideas hopefully to implement over this next year.
As I attended sessions, spoke with others and participated in breakouts I noticed a common thread in several “shifts” in student ministry.
1. the Role of the Family in Discipleship
The subject of the family was talked about on more than one occasion. Student Ministries are slowly realizing that while they are important they can only do so much in regards to the spiritual maturity of teenagers. Mark Holman mentioned that after conducting a thorough study, Mom and Dad are two to three times more important than any church program when it comes to one’s faith as a teenager. The study also showed that the Mother first and Father second where the two most important persons in regards to the spiritual development of their teens…not thier youth group leader or pastor. Ultimately Holman argued for both building strong families and utilizing youth ministries. Bubba Thurman youth pastor at Lake Pointe spoke about the importance of the family and shared his story of once being defensive when first hearing the stats Holman shared. Thurman has since then been leading the way in adopting a practical approach to integrating the family in Discipleship. One of the resources Thurman’s church has developed was a center called home pointe which focuses on building strong healthy Christ-centered families and giving families a plan to do that. Thurman argued for a holistic approach to incorporating the family in the church instead of creating another ministry or program just for the family. He encouraged youth pastors to think of how they could inform parents of what students are already learning by sending home material and involving them in things like camp by doing a live-stream or podcast. Holman also suggested creating opportunities to inspire and equip parents to disciple thier kids from a very early age.
2. Spiritual Formation as a Process
Richy Fisher my friend and boss and Dr. Kara Powell of the Fuller Youth Institute spoke in great detail about a shift to approaching student ministry of growing souls and not so much about growing programs and numbers. Fisher spoke about the importance of looking at God’s scorecard when leading a ministry and seeing the results through His eyes. Fisher also pointed out that spiritual formation is not assimiliation but a move to focus on maturity levels and being Christ-centered. A Lot of what Fisher talked about was introduced from the reveal study done several years ago. Fisher has since then been developing processes for students in his youth group to move in this direction and using a language that can relate with parents and students. You can download Richy’s presentation here.
Powell focused on some research the fuller youth institute had done and looked at four components needed to developing what she called “sticky faith.” The “sticky faith” powell described is very similar to what Fisher presented as being Christ-centered in the reveal study. Below are the 4 components she developed that lead to spiritual maturity.
1. Leaders focused on Jesus
Powel, a long time fan of relational student ministry urged youth pastors to look at this model and examine itself to make sure they were asking leaders to simply follow them but to follow them because they follow Christ… Powell wished she would have talked to students alot more about God than she did. In a relational ministry students will move on to college or something else after high school and youth leaders will no longer be there for students to follow them.
2. Kingdom Centered Justice
Powell talked about the importance of preparation and debriefing when doing service trips or mission trips. Creating opportunities for students to serve and to be the hands and feet of Christ allow students the chance to really use their faith and they want this. Service Trips were the number one things seniors waned more of when surveyed, not programs.
3. Intergenerational Youth Ministry
Powell spoke about allowing/encouraging students to be involved in the overall church instead of always segregating by themselves. The health benefits of working alongside adults and seniors has a tremendous impact of students’ view of the overall church.
4. Early Preparation
Preparing students for college as early as a year before instead of weeks is something Powell also recommended. She spoke about how many students wished their youth ministries would have helped them find churches and ministries to plug into after they left high school…. liveabove is one website she recommended.
Both Fisher and Powell spoke about processes and thinking with the end in mind and encouraged youth pastors to really look at what is truly important in regards to helping students develop in their faith.
- Will you be at shift this year?
- Teaching on Film and Faith
- Practices for unleashing student artists
- Are some exempt from Discipleship?
- Launching an online bible study for your youth ministry
