Comments on: Death to Dissent http://www.likeafire.net/2006/05/11/death-to-dissent/ His word is Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:18:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Paul http://www.likeafire.net/2006/05/11/death-to-dissent/comment-page-1/#comment-222 Paul Fri, 12 May 2006 12:00:22 +0000 http://blog.likeafire.net/?p=124#comment-222 Grant, thanks for the vote of confidence and the encouragemet. Charlie, I read anotherthink often, great stuff. I am coming to the same conclusion although it really just confirms what I have been thinking. We had growth of almost 300% in the fall. It was crazy and we weren't prepared for it. We didn't have the leadership to sustain it. So now we are back to our original number and I am recruiting like crazy. I'll post in the fall when we see if we are all right. Grant, thanks for the vote of confidence and the encouragemet.

Charlie, I read anotherthink often, great stuff. I am coming to the same conclusion although it really just confirms what I have been thinking. We had growth of almost 300% in the fall. It was crazy and we weren’t prepared for it. We didn’t have the leadership to sustain it. So now we are back to our original number and I am recruiting like crazy. I’ll post in the fall when we see if we are all right.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.likeafire.net/2006/05/11/death-to-dissent/comment-page-1/#comment-221 Charlie Fri, 12 May 2006 03:07:13 +0000 http://blog.likeafire.net/?p=124#comment-221 I just came over to your blog from Covenant Blogs. Great topic, and a hard one. Youth can be fickle. Their attention span is almost zero. They haven't figured out life yet and they don't think adults have a clue about what's important. Big challenges. But they crave things that seem authentic, people who are genuine, relationships that stay true no matter how flakey they themselves are. And they want to feel significant, and to be involved in significant things, lasting things. I was caught by Christ in a youth ministry when I was 17, and it wasn't because I intended to let him catch me. But there was such honesty and love there, such genuine people, that it blew me away. And I listened to what they had to say. The world has changed, but I still think youth respond to those same things, and those same sorts of opportunities to connect with their hearts are there. Hang in there, Paul. I just came over to your blog from Covenant Blogs. Great topic, and a hard one. Youth can be fickle. Their attention span is almost zero. They haven’t figured out life yet and they don’t think adults have a clue about what’s important. Big challenges.

But they crave things that seem authentic, people who are genuine, relationships that stay true no matter how flakey they themselves are. And they want to feel significant, and to be involved in significant things, lasting things.

I was caught by Christ in a youth ministry when I was 17, and it wasn’t because I intended to let him catch me. But there was such honesty and love there, such genuine people, that it blew me away. And I listened to what they had to say.

The world has changed, but I still think youth respond to those same things, and those same sorts of opportunities to connect with their hearts are there. Hang in there, Paul.

]]> By: Grant http://www.likeafire.net/2006/05/11/death-to-dissent/comment-page-1/#comment-220 Grant Thu, 11 May 2006 22:21:30 +0000 http://blog.likeafire.net/?p=124#comment-220 the hard part of the context I currently minister in - the highly churched/religious - there is always door number 2, 3, 4, or 60. you're a stud. I'm sure you'll figure it out... the hard part of the context I currently minister in – the highly churched/religious – there is always door number 2, 3, 4, or 60.

you’re a stud. I’m sure you’ll figure it out…

]]> By: Paul http://www.likeafire.net/2006/05/11/death-to-dissent/comment-page-1/#comment-219 Paul Thu, 11 May 2006 15:17:04 +0000 http://blog.likeafire.net/?p=124#comment-219 No, I'm in the right church. I feel very supported and free to make some mistakes. My personal issue is the rampant superficiality encouraged by many other feel good minitries in town. When I challenge, they just go hear someone tickle there ears ad feel better about it. I'm working on it though. I think there is a way. I just haven't found it yet. Thanks for the encouragement. No, I’m in the right church. I feel very supported and free to make some mistakes. My personal issue is the rampant superficiality encouraged by many other feel good minitries in town. When I challenge, they just go hear someone tickle there ears ad feel better about it. I’m working on it though. I think there is a way. I just haven’t found it yet.

Thanks for the encouragement.

]]> By: Grant http://www.likeafire.net/2006/05/11/death-to-dissent/comment-page-1/#comment-218 Grant Thu, 11 May 2006 14:48:52 +0000 http://blog.likeafire.net/?p=124#comment-218 Paul, there is some good news. I saved a bunch of money on my car insurance... Seriously, the bright spot is that the youth culture today is concerned about deeper issues on the whole. Generally, pagan, unchurch students are looking for a cause to get behind. So it might be that the very reason we don't see our student ministries grow is because we aren't challenging and allowing them to lead with their heartbeat. Of course, if you're not in a context to allow that happen - it double sucks. Paul, there is some good news.

I saved a bunch of money on my car insurance…

Seriously, the bright spot is that the youth culture today is concerned about deeper issues on the whole. Generally, pagan, unchurch students are looking for a cause to get behind.

So it might be that the very reason we don’t see our student ministries grow is because we aren’t challenging and allowing them to lead with their heartbeat.

Of course, if you’re not in a context to allow that happen – it double sucks.

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