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Reaching a new youth tribe
9:59am Wednesday, 12th October 2011
Karen Mudge
A ‘Digital Native’ is someone who has grown up in a digital and web-connected world. How can Christians effectively share the gospel with and nurture faith in ‘Digital Natives’?
This and other equally stimulating topics were addressed at the National Youth Ministry Convention (NYMC) in Brisbane from October 5 to 8.
Around 400 youth leaders from all over Australia gathered on the Gold Coast to learn from speakers such as Mike Pilavachi and Tony Campolo.
The 2011 NYMC featured seminars and elective streams on topics such as: online Youth Ministry (Dave Miers); Preaching Like Jesus (Tony Campolo); Building student leaders (Tim Hawkins); Mobilising young people towards Justice (Danielle Strickland); Helping youth to understand the Bible (Graham Stanton); Reaching Boys (Dan Foster) and helping young people through tough times (Kirrilie Smout).
The goal of the convention was to provide refreshment, restoration and rejuvenation for hard-working youth ministry professionals and volunteers, as well as practical training, and cross-pollination of ideas between youth ministry practitioners.
Adrian Blenkinsop of Bible Society, who presented a seminar on Bible Engagement amongst young people, was very encouraged by the convention, saying, “There was such a diverse range of input from quite a variety of speakers, ranging from the focus on Bible engagement and youth culture through to sessions dealing with online engagement with young people, and their experience of grief and depression.”
David Fell, the Youth Minister of St Matthews Church in Manly, NSW, says that one of the big reasons he enjoyed attending the convention was that it brought together Christian youth workers from across Australia. “It reminded me that there is a broad fellowship of people labouring in youth ministry in various places around the country (and beyond).
“It was a great opportunity to engage in the conversation about what’s going on in youth ministry and what we ought to be doing to move forward.”
Dave admits that not everything that was emphasised and taught resonated with his theological position, but he found that “dealing with disagreement was itself a process of learning, and NYMC certainly helped me to look over my own ministry with fresh eyes (and even a spark of creativity)!”
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