by Ted Anderson

We resemble God! At least that’s what the Bible says! We are created in the image of God! In some way we are like God: we resemble God! We are part of the family of God; we share familial traits with our heavenly Parent, just like we share familial traits with our earthly parents. We resemble God! Got it? OK!

So What?

We are stewards (managers) of all Creation, representing God’s interests with all living beings and things. That is what the Bible says. We are the folks left in charge of God’s world. Being stewards of God’s Creation is more than pretty important stuff: it is very important stuff… as in essential, ultimate, necessary!

Being part of God’s family, resembling God, and being a steward are not optional. The Creator of the universe created us to be part of the family and stewards. God knew what God was doing when God created us! There is no question from God’s point of view that we are stewards. God has said that this is so. That should be good enough for us.

Volunteers?

Unfortunately, we think of ourselves as volunteers. Too often we see our stewardship and our resembling as nonessential, as something we do in our spare time. We have made the mistake of recruiting volunteers and offering volunteer positions instead of offering stewardship and the family resemblance of God. When we volunteer we think about putting our time in and then getting out. When the church recruits volunteers we tell them that they will not have much to do. It’s just a matter of having someone be there with the kids. We ask for volunteers – not people who are stewards.

In creation God does not say, “Who is interested in doing this?” Instead God expects us to share the unique gifts and graces God has given each of us. The option is not whether we will be stewards. There is nothing we can do about our resembling God and our being stewards. But there is something we can do about how we view and do our part in God’s world.

Disciples!
We are disciples with specific ministries. Our ministry is ultimately important for God’s Kingdom to come and God’s Will to be done on earth! We do not volunteer for this ministry. We are created for and called into this ministry. We bring the unique and special gifts and graces God has created.

Effective lifegiving youth ministry involves youth and adults becoming the family of God, the body of Christ, and the community of faith. Every youth and adult in this adventure is an important in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Some are ministers who organize the meetings. Some are listening ministers. Some are ministers of song. Some are observing ministers. Some are advising ministers. Some are recreational ministers. There is a vital ministry for everyone. Without each part we are not whole. With each person involved, our community is whole and we find that we grow.

Growing Together

Effective youth ministry produces and involves people continually coming to resemble God more and more. When this happens God’s love and good news fill our lives. We grow together by

• Getting to know one another by name.

• Learning together what it takes to be responsible and responsive.

• Learning together the skills of our different ministries.

• Talking together about God’s call for/in our lives, individually and together.

• Spending time together. Playing some. Praying some. Singing some. Studying some.

• Creating an environment or an opportunity for just being together.

• Covenanting together about being in ministry.

• Helping one another be disciples.

• Using our spiritual gifts and identifying our ways to serve.

The Goal Is
Vital lifegiving ministry is youth oriented ministry. Youth provide the ideas, leadership, direction, enthusiasm, prayer, presence, gifts, and service. Youth are responsible for the learning experiences, retreats, times of worship, recreation, snacks, service projects and fundraisers, and so on. Youth are disciples/ministers who hear God’s call and respond in ministry.

Vital lifegiving ministry is youth ministry. We grow toward effective youth ministry with adults providing friendship, advice when asked, comfort, challenges when appropriate, examples of participation, prayer, presence, gifts, and service. Adults provide a welcoming atmosphere, a “safe home,” enthusiastic support, and a willingness to see things from a different perspective than their own. Adults are disciples who hear God’s call and respond in ministry.

When we remember that we are all disciples/stewards/ministers and that God has created and called us for and to this ministry, we are on the way to vital, lifegiving youth ministry. And we go together, youth and adults, into the heart of God; and we strive through our thoughts, words, and actions to be audaciously humble. May it be so!

From Lifegivers, © 1997 by Abingdon Press. This material may be reproduced for educational purposes.
Brought to you by your youth ministry colleagues at Cokesbury.