Jesse A. Schroeder

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I finished reading Presence-Centered Youth Ministry by Mike King on the plane out to Utah, and I thought I'd jot down some of things that stood out to me. First of all, I felt it was an excellent book, and much needed in the area of youth ministry. It was an easy read because King doesn't beat around the bush or tell a bunch of worthless stories - he gets to the point, states it clearly, and then moves on.

The first half is essentially a critique of the typical (modern) way of doing youth ministry - program driven, numbers focused, behavior modification, segregated from the rest of the church, over emphasizing salvation decisions, and lacking much real or lasing spiritual formation. I thought King succinctly outlined the difference b/w the typical model and the changes he was proposing by juxtaposing two scenarios:

• "You're well equipped to challenge and convince youth to live a mature Christian life. You accomplish this through great programming and powerful messages. You've constructed an environment where positive peer pressure creates an atmosphere where non-Christian beahvior is looked down on so that righteous behavior prevails among your youth. The parents are happy; the deacons are happy; the pastor is happy. Life is good...Inside you wonder if it's all real.
• "You're convinced you'll have to be patient and lead youth on a path of Christian formation so they own their faith. You know they have serious questions about the Christian faith that you're not willing to ignore, but you allow them to live in their doubts, protecting their discovery process. You stand by adolescents who have made huge mistakes...You sense, however, that the Holy Spirit is at work in the lives of many of the young people."

I'm sure you can tell from the italics that I would choose the second scenario every time - and in fact, this is how I try to teach and work as a "youth minister" (although I have a bit of a resentment for that term). In the second half of the book King proposes that more important than programs are people who are genuinely finding and communing with God in their every day life, and honestly introducing youth to real and practical ways to connect with God in their life. He describes practices like imaginative prayer, using tradition, stories and multi-sensory experiences, and essentially taking a hands-off, Holy Spirit-filled approach.

Most significant to me were King's warnings against introducing contemplative practices as the newest program. Instead, he challenges readers (youth leaders) to take their own walk with Christ seriously, to adopt some contemplative practices in their own life, and only after they have become significant and real in their own life, then introduce them to students gradually. The book is filled with quotes from students, and many express the need for youth workers who have a genuine and vibrant faith.

This reminded me of times in my life when I met people who I could tell had spent real time with God. Professors in college, certain pastors, and even just friends or acquaintances - but people that when I was around them, they made me want to be more like Jesus, and I almost felt like I was around Jesus when I was around them. But it wasn't forced; it was natural and it was real. It's always been my goal to be that type of teacher to my students. That I don't teach them so much by the words that come out of my mouth and the curriculum that we cover, but that my passion for God and for life and for justice will simply rub off and be contagious - they will want more of God because they experience God through me in a real way.

But I realize that at the most basic level that means I have a call to face every day with the severity and seriousness that I am going to impact a student's life in a very real way. I tend to look ahead, to hope for the weekend, to blow off an unimportant day like it's not a big deal, and not really prepare or focus spiritually - whether that means skipping times of prayer or listening or meditation, or being over indulgent in television or food or internet or something else.

One chapter in the book that was particularly challenging and I think could apply to this tendency to take the "normal" days for granted is developing a "rule" for my life, similar to that of the monastic rules and traditions, but particular to the core values and practices that I want to define my life. Being intentional about what I do and who I am every day. This is an idea that I want to reflect upon more and perhaps write about and even put into practice in the coming weeks.