Dispatch 1
Sep, 2008
We often say that being a Christian is not about practicing a religion, but rather, it is about building a relationship with Jesus. If this is true (which I think it is) then we can also say that being the church is not about organizations and buildings but that it is a movement and that it is about people. This simple philosophy is the driving force behind everything that the new youth ministry of LWC is doing and will be doing in times to come.
The Mosaics (this is the classification given to the generation born in 1984 and forward) have inherited a world in disrepair.
The name Mosaic has been given to this generation as a way to explain their culture. Mosaics are not individuals with individual ideals; instead, they are members of a global community that fuses together cultures, ideas, and even their ethical stances in order to belong. This melding of cultures is much like a tile-work mosaic that borrows bits and pieces from many tiles in order to make one picture. This diversity is the greatest strength of this generation. It is also the greatest weakness.
The sad fact is that Mosaics are faced with a world that is confused. Pluralism, over exposure to mass media, consumerism, and the general idea that “if it feels good, do it” have birthed a world so polluted with lies that things like honesty, truth, authenticity, and simplicity are in rare supply. This rarity has caused new value to be placed on these ideals that were once common place in our world. Mosaics have grown up in this world where simple goodness is in rare supply.
And the scarcity of truth has caused truth to gain value.
Mosaics are exceptionally cynical, but with good reason. They are surrounded by a melee influences telling them that their lives are lacking some “thing” and the cynicism that the Mosaics have adopted has come to them as a defensive response to their confused world. It helps them to identify truth.
And Mosaics are gifted when it comes to identifying truth.
But not just identifying truth, they are also gifted at identifying whether or not the person telling them the truth is actually living that truth to its fullest. And this is of the deepest value to Mosaics. Growing up in a world that is constantly trying to sell you something causes you to not only value the product (in this case, the truth) but also to value whether or not the “salesman” uses his own product (because after all, this is a global community and Mosaics desire the affirmation of other members of the community).
And that brings us back to the basic philosophy of the youth ministry at LWC.
It would be easy to utilize all of the “conventional, flashy” tools that have been used in youth ministry for decades, but I don’t think that these tools are nearly as effective as they once were. So instead of building a conventional youth ministry, we are building a movement.
What kind of movement?
…A movement that rejects the philosophies of a world corrupt.
…A movement that embraces people of all backgrounds in the loving arms of the Pierced Redeemer.
…A movement that teaches its members to live in the Way; the open, honest, loving lifestyle that Jesus lived before God and man instead of the shallow, deceit-filled way of broken, fallen humanity.
…A movement that values genuine, loving relationships over superficial “make you feel good” acquaintances.
…A movement of resistance to the status quo.
Allow me to introduce the new Youth Movement of LWC,
The Resistance.
Our mission is simple:
To connect students to the revolutionary movement of Jesus.
In coming dispatches I will relate what we are doing and where we have been, until then, pray that the movement will grow in strength and numbers. Pray that Jesus will march ahead of us and that His Spirit will overwhelm us.
Grace.
Peace.
-m
