I like the idea of intentionality regarding involvement of parents in confirmation. We easily become hung-up (and perhaps it's a good thing) on 'laying down the law.' But I don't think it is asking too much of parents to understand that placing a child in a confirmation class comes with expectations, one of which is that the child and family become actively involved in the worship life of the congregation.
However, the idea that worship is important is something a person has to grasp before becoming parents. And so we enter a chicken and egg argument. If teens are nurtured spiritually and socially in a caring community of faith, then there is a better chance they will bring that to bear on their parenting.
To bring the blog back on topic, I have to then ask how do we use social media as a nurturing vehicle? Can we keep connections warm online with the goal being a regular physical presence at church at some point ? We know that an app like Facebook crosses generational lines, albeit for differing reasons. What would something like that look like?
The current mindset has little time for 'institutions.' Is it possible for a church, as an institution to bring together a community online. Or does it all boil down to one-to-one relationships in which the love of Christ shines through? I believe those kind of relationships are much more important in a social network community, and I've seen it happen on my own Facebook wall.
In any endeavour, we have to remember that those whom the Lord has called His own through baptism are still part of the family–some more active than others. We aren't called to do 'programs,' we are called to live our life in Christ so that all we do and say will bring glory to Him. How the Holy Spirit uses us is not our concern, but shouldn't we be willing to use whatever means we have at hand to build relationships for the sake of the Gospel?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The post-confirmation conundrum
Some great comments. Thanks for taking part in the discussion.
Obviously the demographic of the pastor or instructor is important. But surprisingly, if given a digital solution, some will try it.The reason I suggested text messaging is because current research (and this could change tomorrow) indicates that Twitter and Facebook are now skewing older. Teens or young adults are no longer the only 'early adapters'.
I think part of the solution is building a real community and certainly social media can have an influence on that.There was a time, maybe two or three generations ago when social life revolved around the church. And so a young person was confirmed with peers with whom they had grown up. Now, so many are 'dropped' into confirmation with no real connection to the community of faith. So it's just as easy for them to drop out.
Music or style of service may have something to do with hanging around, but most of the 'contemporary' congregational song is keeping the Baby Boomers happy and bears little resemblance to what the teens listen to. We talked to some teens a few years back and their reaction to the music question was that if they want 'contemporary music' they'll download it or go to a concert.
How can the church help parents understand that the Christian faith is not based on baptism, confirmation, marriage and funerals and that it is not something 'done' but something you are because of what God has done? There are some who suggest that the early teen years is not the best time for them to tackle faith issues because they are too busy finding out who they are. I know I learned a lot of my basic Bible knowledge in a basement after-school Bible study before I was 12 and it's stuck with me.
How do we engage teens (and adults) where they are rather than expecting them to show up at church?
I know it's important for them to attend church to receive the God's gifts of His Word and Sacraments, but how do we begin the conversation.
Obviously the demographic of the pastor or instructor is important. But surprisingly, if given a digital solution, some will try it.The reason I suggested text messaging is because current research (and this could change tomorrow) indicates that Twitter and Facebook are now skewing older. Teens or young adults are no longer the only 'early adapters'.
I think part of the solution is building a real community and certainly social media can have an influence on that.There was a time, maybe two or three generations ago when social life revolved around the church. And so a young person was confirmed with peers with whom they had grown up. Now, so many are 'dropped' into confirmation with no real connection to the community of faith. So it's just as easy for them to drop out.
Music or style of service may have something to do with hanging around, but most of the 'contemporary' congregational song is keeping the Baby Boomers happy and bears little resemblance to what the teens listen to. We talked to some teens a few years back and their reaction to the music question was that if they want 'contemporary music' they'll download it or go to a concert.
How can the church help parents understand that the Christian faith is not based on baptism, confirmation, marriage and funerals and that it is not something 'done' but something you are because of what God has done? There are some who suggest that the early teen years is not the best time for them to tackle faith issues because they are too busy finding out who they are. I know I learned a lot of my basic Bible knowledge in a basement after-school Bible study before I was 12 and it's stuck with me.
How do we engage teens (and adults) where they are rather than expecting them to show up at church?
I know it's important for them to attend church to receive the God's gifts of His Word and Sacraments, but how do we begin the conversation.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Digital rites
Today was Confirmation Sunday at our church. Four young men and women, and one adult, confessed their Christian faith before the congregation and took their first communion. Proud parents, grandparents, families and friends crowded the pews to witness this special rite of passage.
As I looked at the four teens, probably around 14 years old, I recognized one immediately. She’s always in church with her family. The others I knew because they are on the rotation to serve as acolytes. You don’t often see them in church if they don’t have to be there.
Many churches lament what is known as the “post-confirmation drop-out.” The teens and often their parents, make sure they are “done” and that’s it. Pictures of confirmands of years past adorn church walls and, if anyone looks at them they ask “who is that?” or “whatever happened to her?”
This morning my mind wandered. The sermon was great, but I was thinking about how congregations can keep in touch with confirmands after their big day. I assumed most of them if not all have cell phones. That means they are likely into text messaging. Could a congregation assign a young adult, or youth leader to be a text-message mentor? I’m not talking about texting a Bible verse every day, but maybe a couple of times a week checking in, letting them know someone has noticed them and cares for them in Christ.
I even thought about a text message game/exercise that could be passed around a confirmation class during the week. The teacher texts “I believe in God the Father Almighty” to one class member. He or she then texts to another member “maker of heaven and earth”…and so on until the class has worked through the Apostles’ Creed. You could do something similar with any part of the catechism. Not only would it help memorization, but it puts the Christian faith right into the daily life of the teen…exactly where it should be.
You could do the same with e-mail, but it would need to be with adult confirmands because today’s teens don’t use e-mail. “It’s so yesterday. My parents use it.”
Thinking digital first for confirmation, do you have any more ideas to share?
As I looked at the four teens, probably around 14 years old, I recognized one immediately. She’s always in church with her family. The others I knew because they are on the rotation to serve as acolytes. You don’t often see them in church if they don’t have to be there.
Many churches lament what is known as the “post-confirmation drop-out.” The teens and often their parents, make sure they are “done” and that’s it. Pictures of confirmands of years past adorn church walls and, if anyone looks at them they ask “who is that?” or “whatever happened to her?”
This morning my mind wandered. The sermon was great, but I was thinking about how congregations can keep in touch with confirmands after their big day. I assumed most of them if not all have cell phones. That means they are likely into text messaging. Could a congregation assign a young adult, or youth leader to be a text-message mentor? I’m not talking about texting a Bible verse every day, but maybe a couple of times a week checking in, letting them know someone has noticed them and cares for them in Christ.
I even thought about a text message game/exercise that could be passed around a confirmation class during the week. The teacher texts “I believe in God the Father Almighty” to one class member. He or she then texts to another member “maker of heaven and earth”…and so on until the class has worked through the Apostles’ Creed. You could do something similar with any part of the catechism. Not only would it help memorization, but it puts the Christian faith right into the daily life of the teen…exactly where it should be.
You could do the same with e-mail, but it would need to be with adult confirmands because today’s teens don’t use e-mail. “It’s so yesterday. My parents use it.”
Thinking digital first for confirmation, do you have any more ideas to share?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Huh?
Did you ever see a commercial on TV and after it was over wondered what it was all about? It’s a strange sensation. You sit there looking blankly at the screen asking yourself “What were they thinking?”
I have to admit that, as someone past the half-century mark, I don’t ‘get’ those commercials because they weren’t aimed at me. The target audience was younger, more attuned to the messages and the vehicles used to communicate them. I’m sure younger people don’t understand the commercials aimed at my generation.
In the course of a recent discussion about outreach, I commented that it’s difficult for Christians to think like non-Christians because our faith is so inextricably woven into who we are. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to what people outside the church are saying, thinking and doing. A good communicator knows the audience with whom he or she is trying to communicate.
The Christian faith vocabulary is blessed with words rich in meaning—sin, salvation, redemption, confession, absolution, Word and Sacraments—which have little relevance to those outside the faith.
Unfortunately, sometimes those within the Christian community don’t get it when an outreach effort uses words, images or techniques that engage a non-Christian. But, remember, the message isn’t aimed at the saints..
As I recall, Jesus didn’t endear himself to the religious community. Like a doctor who doesn’t need to heal the healthy, His message was aimed at the spiritually sick.
If the Church—if we —are to communicate effectively outside our four walls—in whatever medium—we need to use language, images, ideas and techniques that effectively communicate the simplicity of the Gospel message with those whom the Lord wants to seek and to save: the lost!
I have to admit that, as someone past the half-century mark, I don’t ‘get’ those commercials because they weren’t aimed at me. The target audience was younger, more attuned to the messages and the vehicles used to communicate them. I’m sure younger people don’t understand the commercials aimed at my generation.
In the course of a recent discussion about outreach, I commented that it’s difficult for Christians to think like non-Christians because our faith is so inextricably woven into who we are. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to what people outside the church are saying, thinking and doing. A good communicator knows the audience with whom he or she is trying to communicate.
The Christian faith vocabulary is blessed with words rich in meaning—sin, salvation, redemption, confession, absolution, Word and Sacraments—which have little relevance to those outside the faith.
Unfortunately, sometimes those within the Christian community don’t get it when an outreach effort uses words, images or techniques that engage a non-Christian. But, remember, the message isn’t aimed at the saints..
As I recall, Jesus didn’t endear himself to the religious community. Like a doctor who doesn’t need to heal the healthy, His message was aimed at the spiritually sick.
If the Church—if we —are to communicate effectively outside our four walls—in whatever medium—we need to use language, images, ideas and techniques that effectively communicate the simplicity of the Gospel message with those whom the Lord wants to seek and to save: the lost!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Lutheran media agency in transition
Okay….so I haven’t blogged in a bit. Sorry. It’s been a busy month. My son and I had a great time in St. Louis last week talking to the good folks at Lutheran Hour Ministries about social media.
The organization, with roots in broadcast and ‘old media’ is beginning to engage a new audience with social media. They are starting to use YouTube, blogs and Facebook to work alongside existing programs like The Lutheran Hour and Woman-to-Woman. The latest product, The Men’s NetWork is totally web-based and taking off like wild-fire.
Take a look at the links, leave comments and help this fine outreach organization as it works to Think Digital First.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Good news from the cemetery
Martin Luther took the Bible to the people when he translated God's Word into German. With reports that Canadian teens are becoming more atheistic, it's time to take God's Good News of Easter to the public....and what better place than Youtube. Check out the video and share the link with everyone on your mailing list. Here's where you find it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iM_4niqVeU
More than 100 people viewed in the first hour!
More than 100 people viewed in the first hour!
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