Merging Souls

By Dan of DUZIE

I just returned from a cold walk with my dog.  While avoiding trees and trying to keep my hands from freezing, I began to think back over my past 25 years of generational ministry.  I asked myself “What has been the biggest change?”  The answer came so quickly it scarred me, and my dog!  Answer: Ministry has moved “FROM HUGE TO HUG!”

25 years ago, youth ministry success was measured by numbers, how big, how many, and how much.  Often times, If you couldn’t make the quota, you made your exit.  To become a youth specialist I had to learn sound, lights, TV, event management, even crowd control.  One day we were instructed how to successfully manage hundreds of young people coming to Jesus at one time.  I am not saying any of that is wrong, but times have changed.

Teens once asked, “What are we going to do”?  The answer had to have been a HUGE answer. Today the question is “Who will be there”?  They are asking is it going to be a safe place for me, will I be noticed, but not embarrassed?  Will I get a HUG?

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By Dan of DUZIE

I was just on twitter, a new form of communication for me that I am greatly enjoying.  I (Dan) am “DanDuzie” & Suzie is “SuziePotter” & we both are “DuziePotter”.  Just go on twitter.com (sign on if you haven’t already) and send us a TWEET.  I was just on and saw the following TWEET by Dave Weir.

Dave Weir, is an awesome youth worker was recently reading “The Greenhouse Project” by Mike Calhoun and Mel Walker. The book asked the question “What do you think the TOP TENgoals of youth ministry should be?”  He stimulated much thought in us.  

What do you think the top ten goals of youth ministry should be? HMMMMMM?

Wow what a question.  I put mind in gear, but what seemed to go from my fingers into 10 separate TWEETS was not really what should be the answers to the question.  If these offend you . . . sorry!  My Youth Leader did not seem to have that on his top 10 for me.  Here are my (Dan’s) thoughts – almost, exactly as they came moments ago.

What do you think the top ten goals of youth ministry should be? HMMMMMM?

1.    Make everyone in the church happy all the time.

2.    Teach all the teens, all the things their parents did not have time to.

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