Justice Hits Close to Home (Part Five)
Think of a parent or two who has really encouraged their own kid, and maybe your entire youth ministry, to be involved in service. How did they catch the vision for kingdom justice?
Sandy Liu (Pastor of Youth and Children at Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston): One single mom and her kids used to be homeless for a short time. Based on what she shared about her experience being homeless, our church started an annual "Operation Mittens" where we collect and distribute warm mittens, hats, scarves and coats to the street homeless. Having such special people within your community makes the kingdom needs more real and visible to an insulated church.
Cari Jenkins (Founder, 11:29 Project): Through experience. One parent served on a high school house-building trip in Mexico and actually came to know the Lord that year on the trip. The next year, Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi and that parent was one of the first to initiate a plan to build homes and get involved there.
Jeff Mattesich (Associate Pastor of Children and Students at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena): They are learners—they are always asking, seeking, and changing in their pursuit of a Christ-centered life. Many times, they have a history of being involved in justice issues and they also want their kids to understand the connection between justice and maturity in Christ.
As this roundtable makes clear, fears don’t need to be the driving force behind parents’ responses to our missions and justice endeavors. When we begin to invite parents to be key partners and advocates, justice can start hitting students even closer to home.
[This blog post is the fifth and final in a series provided by Fuller Seminary's Center for Youth and Family Ministry. cyfm.net]
Sandy Liu (Pastor of Youth and Children at Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston): One single mom and her kids used to be homeless for a short time. Based on what she shared about her experience being homeless, our church started an annual "Operation Mittens" where we collect and distribute warm mittens, hats, scarves and coats to the street homeless. Having such special people within your community makes the kingdom needs more real and visible to an insulated church.
Cari Jenkins (Founder, 11:29 Project): Through experience. One parent served on a high school house-building trip in Mexico and actually came to know the Lord that year on the trip. The next year, Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi and that parent was one of the first to initiate a plan to build homes and get involved there.
Jeff Mattesich (Associate Pastor of Children and Students at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena): They are learners—they are always asking, seeking, and changing in their pursuit of a Christ-centered life. Many times, they have a history of being involved in justice issues and they also want their kids to understand the connection between justice and maturity in Christ.
As this roundtable makes clear, fears don’t need to be the driving force behind parents’ responses to our missions and justice endeavors. When we begin to invite parents to be key partners and advocates, justice can start hitting students even closer to home.
[This blog post is the fifth and final in a series provided by Fuller Seminary's Center for Youth and Family Ministry. cyfm.net]
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posted by CYFM at 5:09 PM
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