Parents
So, what exactly do kids hear at youth? What sort of things are they exposed to?Maybe these are questions that flash through your head as you drop your children of at various youth events…or maybe life has been too busy and you haven’t had the chance to even think about that. The information below lists 7 checkpoints that give an overall purpose to the messages and programming taught at youth.
This page is for you, parents who entrust TBC Youth with your children. I thank you for that privilege. In return, I have outlined what is hopefully beneficial to the lives of your children and I am excited to partner with you in this chapter of your family’s life.
How do we raise a generation of Christ-like students who will revive the church and change the world?
I’m not suggesting that I have a seven step program guaranteeing Jesus second coming, but the seven checkpoints will equip students in the youth program with a solid Christian teaching to make a difference in the Church, and the world they live in.
It is easy to say we want to disciple people without clearly defining what a true disciple is like. Because our mental picture of a fully trained disciple is vague so is our attempt to develop that type of person. The opposite is equally true. The more clearly we know the type of disciple we are seeking to develop, the more precise we can be in developing a clearly-defined ministry strategy with effective results.
So what will a student look like who enters youth in grade seven and continues until they graduate?
In those six years we want to be very specific about our teaching and our programming so that we can be working towards helping each student become a fully functioning disciple of Christ.We want our students to come out of the student ministry looking more like Jesus than they did when they came in. We want to work in concert with parents to equip each student with the “tools” they need for life. So that when you drive away, that fateful day, leaving them in their first year university dorm room you know they have what it takes to stand firm.
What are these Seven Checkpoints? Well here they are.
Authentic Faith
Spiritual Disciplines
We want our students to have a healthy devotional life. Paul says that true spiritual transformation begins with a renewed mind. As young men and women begin to renew their minds according to the truths of scripture will their attitudes and behaviors fall in line with them? Romans 12:2 says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.
Moral Boundaries
Clear moral limits are so vital in a world that exists in shades of grey. Students need to learn how to protect their bodies and emotions by honoring God’s plan for sex and morality. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 says “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
Healthy Friendships
Like it or not the people students associate with the most will have a direct impact on the decisions they make and the standards they choose. Healthy friendships build us up and draw us closer to God while unhealthy friendships bring us down and cause us to compromise what we know is right. We want our students to build healthy friendships while avoiding unhealthy ones. Proverbs 13:20 says “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm”.
Wise Choices
We all need to apply godly wisdom in the choices we make. Good decision making is more than choosing between right and wrong. Students need to learn to ask, “in light of my past experiences and my future dreams what is the wise thing for me to do in this situation?” Ephesians 5:15-17 says “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is”.
Understanding Authority
Students can slip into viewing freedom and authority as opposing concepts. The Bible teaches that true freedom is found under authority. We desire for our students to recognize God’s ultimate authority and respect the earthly authorities placed over all of us. Romans 13:1-2 says “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves”.
Others First
Selfishness comes naturally to all of us, students included. Selflessness however needs to be learned. The Bible tells us that Jesus “made himself nothing” in order to serve the people he loved. He put the needs of others ahead of his own. Our students need to know the true nature of humility and service. Philippians 2:3-11 says “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.
I suppose you could have a few responses to this, one could be 'yeah this is good', or 'there is something missing', or 'what is the big deal and why do you have all of this?'. My response to these would be: If you think it is good let us know and that will be an encouragement to all involved in student ministry. If you think we are missing something please let us know. If you are wondering why these checkpoints? Maybe you are thinking this is a bit over the top, then let me put it this way. Proverbs 29:18 says “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (KJV). Researchers found between 69-94 percent of Christian youths forsake their faith after leaving high school. The Barna Group reported 64 percent loss after college graduation. The Assemblies of God conducted a 10-year study and found 75 percent loss of their students within one year of high school graduation, while the Southern Baptists found that number to be even higher at 88 percent loss. And Josh McDowell Ministries reports 94 percent fallout within two years of high school graduation.
Another way to see these stats? If you have four children and these statistics are correct, by the time all of them are out of high school the odds are that only one will be still involved with the church in some way. Pretty scary numbers right.We do not want our students to perish, we want them to flourish.
It is our passion, that these students will have the desire to revive the Church, and make a Christ honoring difference in the world.
Pastor Rob
posted by REAL Student Ministries @ 8:05 AM
