(Nashville, Tenn. – 7/11/2011) - Youth ministers from across North America gathered to compare ministries, share resources, make new friends and associates and deepen their mission and skills. The Youth Ministry is Missional Ministry” Learning Track on July 11 featured small groups where all shared their hopes, dreams and experiences in youth leadership. A spirit of mission, optimism, engagement and a real passion for elevating the lives of our young people filled the room.
The session was facilitated by the Disciple Youth Ministry Network (DYMN, pronounced similar to diamond). This group was formed in 2006 of ministers from seven regions across the country to be a peer group to support youth ministry. They gather each year to dialogue about trends in youth culture, personal identity, theology, exegesis, and faith development for young people. Bill Spangler-Dunning expressed the goals of the organization as, “We work to build relationships and gain new insight from our conversations”. The geographically diverse group has an annual gathering and uses video conferencing, e-mail, tweeting and other tools to stay in communication.
DYMN Facilitators for this session were:
- Bill Spangler-Dunning
- Julie Richardson Brown
- Michael Davidson
- Randy Kuss
- Russ Boyd
- Laura Blackwood Pickrel
- Adam Frieberg
Rather than a lecture format, the session was a series of small group work sessions with “spiritual practice breaks” in-between. Someone characterized it as a cross between a world café and speed dating. Each time the participants changed groups to be able to share best practices and ideology from across the continent.
One of the sessions asked the question, “If you could be a youth minister superhero what special power would you have?” Of the dozens of great responses one really stood out….”I would be able to create parents for those who have none.”
Sometimes the “in-between” conversations are as important to the ministries as the programmed content. In one of those conversations Julie Richardson Brown expressed the views of so many with her comment, “Kids want to know they matter, belong and are loved. There is a whole lot in this world that tells them they don’t matter or belong and are not loved. Young people have value and a voice if we will listen.”
Andra Moran, a songwriter, singer and musician who lives in Nashville, was delighted to see how many people who participated in youth programs like church camp have developed into youth leaders/ministers and feels good about the ministries they are providing for our young people.
One comment reported from a participant was, “I’ve become a youth leader but never went to church as a child because no one asked me.” The group’s response was, “We have to Tell It!”
To join the DYMN conversation, check out the website at: www.dymn.org.
Reported by Cyril Stewart
news@cm.disciples.org