Youth Resources is interested in your opinion.
Listed below are four questions. You can write whatever you want on the subject using at least 200+ words.
WORKING TOGETHER.
Please write a short essay on youth ministries working together. You may want to address questions such as:
- Why ministries don’t work together
- Why is it important or not important for groups to work together?
- Things that can be accomplished by working together
- Successes and/or failures of past cooperative experiences
- Or whatever you want on the subject
Entries are due by Tuesday, February 1, 2011
We will be giving away a gift certificate for this question. Each certificate will be worth at least $40.00 towards food, or gas, or coffee, or a paid registration to Reload
2 comments:
Working Together
By Annette Bittner
I believe that in our day and time, it is very important that ministries learn to work together. There is an abundance of provision when everyone comes together. When folks come together, we have increased:
Resources (people, funds, wisdom, vision)
Unity
Effectiveness
How often do ministries struggle to meet their needs in accomplishing their goals when they stand alone? It’s happening all the time. For example, a ministry desires to do an outreach in the community but cannot afford to provide food or snacks of some kind. Down the street Youth Resources has connections and resources that would aid in the outreach providing some good snacks for the event. Youth Resources has a cotton candy and popcorn machine that the ministry could use as partner ministries. This ministry may not have these resources, but what they do have is an indoor gym. If these two ministries partner together, each would have double resources than if they stood alone.
Unity is very important to have in our community. It is division that has caused us to get to where are today. Because some ministries fear losing church members, they tend operate more in a competitive spirit, rather than a spirit of unity in the community. The point is not to have the best programs and the biggest and baddest sanctuary. The point is to reach the lost. If this means that a new convert lives closer to another church and decides to go there, it is okay. I believe that if the churches and ministries came together for prayer and then moved from there to serve and minister to North Minneapolis, we would see the harvest come and revival. When we keep to ourselves what we have, then we also remain to ourselves and that leads to stagnation.
Effectiveness is not equated in numbers. Numbers go up and down and do not truly indicate effectiveness like true conversions and disciple-making do. I can only imagine what it would be like if churches and ministries in North Minneapolis got a vision for what is on the heart of God in this hour for North Minneapolis. Jesus is coming back and the bride in North Minneapolis is behind just a little. The church will be judged for this. One person or one ministry, though making an impact, cannot do it alone, it takes the body to affect North Minneapolis in the way that it needs.
I want to see the glory of God returned to North Minneapolis. Can anything good come out of North Minneapolis? Absolutely. As soon as we get together, we will see great things for the whole city.
Rachel Hirsh
WORKING TOGETHER
Why ministries resist working together,
I truly do not know or understand. It is more than valuable for ministries to make community connections and it is proven that raising our youth as a “pack”, with joint efforts, works. Young people need positive influences that are willing to poor into their lives from all sides. If churches cannot work well with each other then it is virtually certain that those churches will not work well and/or closely with other community services like junior high and high schools, community centers, or the police.
Unfortunately, much of this disunity within the church seems to come down to denomination. Denomination is defined as a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian church. My denomination does not define me as a Christian. If someone comes to me and inquires what I am, referring to my spiritual affiliation, I do not say that I am Pentecostal or that I go to an Assemblies of God church. I say that I am a Christ follower because I believe that this is what matters for people to know. Christ died for me and now I give Him my whole life in return. I live to give Him the glory and praise, so why should it matter if I am Catholic, Baptist, or Assemblies of God? I believe that we all have a similar goal and I believe without a doubt that we could accomplish significantly more if we were just more willing to work together. Speaking life and promoting unity is one of the major concepts that we stand for, yet for some reason we do not implement it within the church. I want to fight for God’s best in this area. I am willing to sacrifice and let God use me to bring restoration to the potential that we have as Christ followers in this world. I would love to one-day see what can be done when we all work together. I just cannot help but ask, “what if?”
It is vital for groups to work together and for many ministries choosing to do so could be a game-changing decision. So much could be accomplished and so many lives could be saved. What are we waiting for? I believe that God moves in great ways when we are unified together.
I had the pleasure of leading a Youth Works mission trip with a junior high group and it certainly an eye-opening experience for students and adult leaders alike. It was as if you could see light bulbs go off in their heads! You could see in their eyes that they finally understood that we can work together with the goal of serving others and furthering God’s kingdom regardless of our church’s affiliation. It was amazing to see all of these different denominations come together and worship in their own ways. It did not matter what it looked like for each unique group because we were all just taking in God’s presence together. The whole of Christianity has the potential to work in this manner and if they did I believe that the world could be completely changed. It sounds cliché, but we need to start practicing what we preach about. It is our job on earth to serve God and I believe that we have to work together in order to effectively accomplish that calling.
Post a Comment