Faith Formation (aka Confirmation) What inspires youth to read the Bible and participate in the life of the church?

[The Rev Patsy Koeneke]

I would be interested in hearing from youth in particular regarding what would make the Faith Formation process more inspiring for them? It is so disheartening to see youth virtually "disappear" from worship, Sunday school, and church activities once they are "confirmed." Perhaps we need a new approach... and we need to listen to the youth and their ideas. Are there ways to "connect" with youth via Facebook, MySpace, text messages to cell phones and PDA's? What do you think? Leaders and pastors - your input will be valuable also. Thanks!

[Louise Buckles]

My husband, John, was laid off last year, as a result he started to get involved in the youth ministry at the church, we have 2 daughters, 18 & 14. He now leads the youth and young adults. He loves this new job, and we pray that he will be able to continue in it.

Each youth chooses a night, and they bring the scripture to discuss that night. They read it, and then the rest of the youth give input into that scripture.

With the young adults he had been teaching them about the character of Jesus.

Both groups are involved in community service. In fact, at John's suggestion the church has just adopted a park. This park has been closed since the 80's. The young adult's and youth are going to fix the park up, and get it reopened to the public. With state funding for parks being cut it is one way that our church can help the community.

I find that the youth of today need to get a chance to get out and help others. It helps them to understand better what is going on in the world around them.

[Ken Hymes]

Joyce... Amen, sister. Sounds like your husband is involved in a great ministry. I'm always so happy to hear about churches that are grounding education in service... I think kids are hungry for this stuff, they want to know what they can do, not what they should think.

[Ken Hymes]

Sleepy morning, misspoke, sorry *Louise* not *Joyce* my apologies again.

[Elizabeth]

HI i am not a pastor nor minister. but i am a mom of two teenage daughters... if that counts for anything i am new to this site so do not know what denomination everyone is.
Youth in the church.. i am old -fashioned forgive me if i am wrong but i belieive that catering to "worldly things such as my space and yes even christian rock nd rap is not what Christ would want... so having said this i suggest gowing deeper, we all know that teenagers ae ALL hurting for one reason or another so who is the best healer? suggest that and see if it doesn't work.

[Ken Hymes]

Elizabeth... I know you are looking out for your daughters, but I have to ask: the organ and choir and the liturgy and the theology are in the Gospel... where?
Please read the OT account of David returning with the ark of the covenant; read the psalms that talk about music. Christian rock, for all its flaws, is closer to the biblical idea of music than most of what's in hymnals.

[Nate Porter]

I think both (hymnals and CCM) are just as close to the Biblical idea. They just speak to different people. The style of music is just one way to help people feel like they can come see. The core of the ministry is 1)Connecting with people wherever they are and 2)living in the Word. That requires attention to Bible and context and is usually a both/and proposition, not an either/or.

Part of the point of this thread initially I think is how to use confirmation as a launchpad into further faith formation, rather than it becoming a one-way ticket to freedom from the church. And I am interested in further ideas for that, particularly with our confirmation day approaching soon.

Ken Hymes said:

Elizabeth... I know you are looking out for your daughters, but I have to ask: the organ and choir and the liturgy and the theology are in the Gospel... where?
Please read the OT account of David returning with the ark of the covenant; read the psalms that talk about music. Christian rock, for all its flaws, is closer to the biblical idea of music than most of what's in hymnals.

[Ken Hymes]

Yes, they speak to different people, and you are right to allude to the account of Paul's ministry to the Greeks we receive from Acts. But we can't get out of the evident fact that the denominational churches are largely uninterested in meeting youth where they are. I'm not obsessed with musical style, I was responding to the offhand condemnation of "Christian rock" however that might be defined. It's much more than music, it's the whole package, starting with the values implicit in priorities acted on by the church. Again, almost always local service is the exception, the "baby steps we're taking," not the core DNA of churches. And it is precisely this concrete example that youth (or anyone for that matter) need to "get it," to be compelled to ask "why do you do that?" I still say... far too much talk and theory and curriculum, way too little sacrifice and giving and hard work.

Nate Porter said:

I think both (hymnals and CCM) are just as close to the Biblical idea. They just speak to different people. The style of music is just one way to help people feel like they can come see. The core of the ministry is 1)Connecting with people wherever they are and 2)living in the Word. That requires attention to Bible and context and is usually a both/and proposition, not an either/or.

Part of the point of this thread initially I think is how to use confirmation as a launchpad into further faith formation, rather than it becoming a one-way ticket to freedom from the church. And I am interested in further ideas for that, particularly with our confirmation day approaching soon.

Ken Hymes said:

Elizabeth... I know you are looking out for your daughters, but I have to ask: the organ and choir and the liturgy and the theology are in the Gospel... where?
Please read the OT account of David returning with the ark of the covenant; read the psalms that talk about music. Christian rock, for all its flaws, is closer to the biblical idea of music than most of what's in hymnals.

[Nate Porter]

Amen.

[bruce metcalf]

I to was away from the church most of my life ,for different reasons then yours (sounds like your church was very politacal). Now at 59 after several years of being involved in our church and even getting close to finishing our first year in lay school I believe our churchs have tried to adapt to meet everyones needs and in doing so lost their traditional foundation!! I believe instead of constantly trying to charge we should be educating on the traditions so our youth understand the church and it's workings !! If they understand and are included in the service they will be less likely to drift away !!!

[bruce metcalf]

love that expression "graduated from church" so, so true !!! Have been brain storming in our church for some time without any luck !! think what needs to be looked at is our additude toward our young families !!! We spend hours thinking of mission work in 3rd world countries ,and I agree this is important ,but we can't forget that our youth are starving also !! Only our youth are being starved of their faith and we're the one's who aren't feeding them !!!

[The Rev Patsy Koeneke]

I appreciate all the comments and hope more people will join the conversation. I'd especially like to hear from teens and "20 somethings" about their church experiences, and why they are or aren't actively participating in a faith community. And, what keeps you active... or what would inspire you to participate?