I had the opportunity to minister directly to teenagers recently and from the material we were considering three words stood out for me. I believe they will help us in the desire to deliberately pursue unity or partnership in our calling to children and young people. These words are assumption, worldview and reality.
Assumption (assume): to assume is to believe a concept or viewpoint without thinking critically about it. It is to take something for granted.
Worldview: is the total set of assumptions that a person holds, either consciously or unconsciously, about the world and how it works.
Reality: is simply what truly is and how it works.
After the meeting I had to think deeply over these words and their definition and came to the conclusion that they have implications not only in the lives of young people today but to us as leaders in children and youth ministries, especially as it relates to how we must trust God to work according to his pattern.
In our last post reference was made of the need for the body of Christ to pursue the matter of joining hands with one another through partnerships. Not just for the purpose of expanding our reach, though not less either, but it is the way God wants His work done.
Having studied most of our approach to ministry, I have come to the conclusion that our pattern has not been very different from the example of a new business owner, who at the early stage of promoting a business and ensure it succeeds, often may have to work alone. We tend to run ministry as though we do not need help from others.
Just like the definition of assumption as earlier mentioned, some adopt practices or methods without critically thinking about their relationship to Scriptures ( I agree that not everything we will do in ministry is clearly spelt out in scripture), but I am referring to the core of ministry. Sometimes we do so simply because it has worked in another ministry. We must not take for granted the need to partner with others if we hope to have the impact that heaven envisages. But we need to do so in an informed manner.
Overtime such approach becomes our worldview and we hold tightly to it, even though it may no longer be helping us in anyway fulfill our assignment.
The reality of our work should not be defined by men or methods (as important as they may be) but by what His word says and its specific application to the unique ministry he has apportioned for us.
Efforts such as that by NCMA and other bodies to encourage partnership in the work of the kingdom among children and young people is commendable. At their thanksgiving the topic: “The Importance Of partnership in Children’s Ministry” was treated.
It is my prayer that the steps so far taken will be vigorously pursued and may those ministries desirous of joining hands with sister ministries for greater impact do so in an informed manner.
In conclusion, let us be reminded that God not only placed us in groups and ministry relationships to get the job done, but first that we all grow in our knowledge and intimacy with him and then we grow in our relationship with one another, thereby reflecting Christ in the work of ministry (Mark 3:13-15).