All About Parenting Youth
We talk all the time about wanting to help parents be good parents through the Church. After reading a lot yesterday in YouthWorker Journal [YWJ] about discipling the youth in our ministries, and after sitting in a discipleship-focused group gathering yesterday morning, Michael and I talked about how to get the youth ministry here to that place of disciple-formation, as it was intended.
YWJ’s articles talked about what we’re missing — from ministry, from parents, from general expectations of teenagers — and how to refocus on what’s important.
And today, I stumble across this open letter to parents, from a parent of young adults. I wish every parent in youth ministry here could read it:
Keys to Making Your Kid Apathetic About Faith
- Put academic pursuits above faith-building activities.
- Chase the gold ball first and foremost.
- Teach your kids that the dollar is almighty.
Read the rest of Scott’s open letter [thanks to Marko].
59 Hours
…until I am officially on vacation. This summer has been incredible, but it has also been long. Flying Squirrels game with the youth, mission trip, Camp Pastor for a week at Camp Piankatank, and lots of fun with the lower schoolers.
Now, I’m exhausted. I always say this, but I am so ready for vacation. I might sleep through the whole thing, just to catch up. And I still have:
- Water Wars (big youth event) today
- preaching 3 services Sunday, which includes wrapping up the sermon
- youth group Sunday night
Brooklyn (who’s a middle school pastor, might I add…she knows where it’s at!) wrote a great piece on the YS site a few days ago, which included this quote:
Summer is both the sweet spot and a killer for youth ministers of all types. It’s the time when we get to connect teenagers with experiences that they’ll tie to their faith for a lifetime. It’s also the time when we wear down, lose sleep, go the extra mile, and forget that we too are human in need of rest and spiritual renewal.
How true, how true. Heading into vacation, I am excited about resting. With myself, with Kim and getting ready for an exciting new school year at GBC.
Now, about these next 59 hours…
A Great Weekend Already
This morning I sent out this text message to the youth coming on the retreat this weekend:
when clock strikes 10 2nite u will run+hide+try 2 win the game. be sure u dress the part. dark clothes, camo, face paint, whatever u need!
A few hours later, I get this e-mail from a parent:
subject: Funny Teenage Moment!
Aaron–to many…this would not be “encouragement”…to someone in your position, I think it will be! This morning-before 8:15…before he even ate breakfast…[my son] smiled AND laughed! He read your email about the gear needed for some type of hunt(?) and laughed out loud! He said something about knowing a thing or two about stealth…then said, “this should be fun!”. Music to a parents ears…hope it is for you, too. Thank you for all you do to show our Creator to our children each and every week…lower and upper school alike. Have a blessed day and weekend.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Ah, youth retreats. Can’t wait. Picking up Robbie from the airport in a few hours, and then it’s on. Fun times in youth ministry, with a great team of volunteers, and a great interim high school pastor to work with.