Often in youth ministry the thought is that we have to do ministry or produce results as quickly as possible. While the desire to produce a strong, viable, and sustainable youth ministry quickly is understood, the reality is that in order for the ministry to be any of these, the ministry and the leadership team will need the correct amount of “time” and “care” to fully develop. This does not mean that nothing can be done quickly it just means that there needs to be a process put in place as you gather and grow the ministry. Here are some thoughts:
- Microwave youth ministry
- Microwave youth ministry may get hot quickly but the quality of the ministry is not as effective.
- Microwave youth ministry can come in a convenient package but often the wrapping of the package looks better than the actual product inside.
- Microwave youth ministry comes with everything already in the package so it doesn’t allow you to add your own “real” ingredients.
- Oven youth ministry
- Oven youth ministry will take longer but the heat will go throughout the “whole” meal and when the food is done it will be heated evenly.
- Oven youth ministry allows you to use a cook book (our book is the Bible) so that you can plan and develop the meal based on on the needs of those you are serving.
- Oven youth ministry will allow you to prepare more for more people as opposed to the microwave, which allows you to only have a certain amount.
- Oven youth ministry allows you to add your own ingredients without being limited to what is in the box.
Questions: What would you add to the elements of a microwave or oven youth ministry? Do you see a benefit to microwave youth ministry? How would you suggest that we ensure that our youth ministries are more oven than microwave?
