Previous Posts:
• Introductory thoughts
• Part 1
1. What Deep and Wide Youth Ministry is Not (pages 3-4)
It is not just another approach to youth ministry
I found it interesting that the thesis tries to convince us that “Deep and Wide Youth Ministry is not a gimmick or a method” (3) and then goes on to use words like “X-factor” (gimmick) and argues the necessity of this particular approach to ministry (method). Okay, it’s not a “method” in the strictest sense of describing exactly what needs to be happening in your ministry, but DWYM is talked about as if it is a non-negotiable way to envision doing ministry. Maybe it isn’t a model, but it is an orienting paradigm for doing ministry (on the summary on page one it describes itself as a “model”). When it says it’s not just “another” approach, I get the feeling they are saying it is the approach.
It is not a simple approach to youth ministry
DWYM portrays itself as cutting “across the grain of the entrenched youth ministry philosophy” found in most churches, but I’m not so sure. Most youth ministers I talk to have moved well past the fun and games model of ministry and are trying to pursue something deeper. When most Christian colleges are offering bachelors degrees in youth ministry and many seminaries are offering masters and doctorates in youth ministry fields, we have moved past thinking of youth ministry as an entertainment-heavy endeavor.
In fact, I wonder if youth ministries that consider themselves to be doing a good job at evangelism might be the ones that are heavily-oriented towards entertainment models of ministry. That seems very plausible, but it’s really just conjecture.
At the very least, D2S is trying to articulate that doing youth ministry isn’t easy or simple. They didn’t just give the seven steps to DWYM and put their guarantee on the results, which I am thankful for.
It is not optional
I agree that following the Great Commission is not be optional, but that does not mean that DWYM is a non-negotiable. As I stated before, there are some foundational problems with the DWYM approach. I’m all for the Great Commission, but Jesus gave us the Great Commission, the rest of scripture, and himself, not DWYM.
More thoughts on DWYM to follow tomorrow, much of which I like!
I think D&W is an attempt to help ministries clearly communicate the Great Commission, scripture and Christ and help teens integrate those things into their life — it’s not claiming to be on par with those things.
Hey Tim,
I checked out your Allies for Youth site, looks really nice.
I guess I’m not getting invited as a guest speaker for your Deep and Wide Youth Ministry Conference?
😉
Dude, we’d love to have you if you wanna come! Seriously. We already got the featured speaker lined up, but if you wanna come, lemme know. Just make your way to MN. 🙂
I’m actually in St. Paul twice a year for seminary classes at Luther Seminary. Maybe I’ll look you up sometime.
Yeah man, just email me and lemme know when you’re around. I’m about 2 hours NW of St. Paul, but I’m often in the city for other stuff.
i’m seeing a park bench and two grown men 🙂 just kiddingwhy do you think, or what do you think has has lead to the ideology of making purpose statements, vision statements…ie things along those lines??
why do we feel we have to rephrase or consolidate the words of Christ and the message He brought from the Father.I have some answers to the following but wanted to pose it to others, where does Christ ‘consolidate’ or make vision, mission statements?
ps. i’m trying this new novel idea matt of paragraphs 😮 does that work better for you 🙂
crud it didn’t work….the paragraphs anyways
maybe i’ll just double space :-)…you taking your students to see narnia today 🙂 i hear that they have a youth ministry follow along booklet that is out so you can be up to speed on what all the story line is about and the parallels of seeing christ….its only $99.99
Why do we have mission/vision/etc. statements? Because that’s what organizations do. They just… do.
Double space, Brit. Double space.
Oooooh, $99.99? What a deal!
i appreciate your arguments regarding d2s. it is essential we investigate the theological implications because it is obviously they (our theology) shapes our youth ministry philosophy.
youth ministries need to be more than just effective, they need to be transformative without being too strategic.
this is very nice on youth ministry , am a growing up youth minister in Africa pursuing my masters in pastoral ministry