I’ve posted on this before, and I’m a bit further down the line now. We’ve decided we would like to host a year out student starting in Sept 2006, the main bulk of the work being youthwork. (I do now have a rough job description) I’ve been looking at different schemes, careforce and time for God being the most appropriate so far I think. I’ve also been looking at the courses run by CYM and Moorlands college for volunteer youthworkers / year out students.
The question I guess I’m asking is :
Should I apply for a volunteer through one of these current schemes, or do as many seem to do these days, advertise for a year out student independently?
What experience of year out workers do you have?
Any advice?
YEAR OUT SCHEMES November 30, 2005
THEOLOGY OF YOUTH MINISTRY November 25, 2005
Russ Rook gave a seminar titled Theology of Youth Ministry. For me, the outcome of this seminar was an encouragement to think more and read more. The one thing he said that sticks in my mind was that we often read books which tell us what we want to hear or which will encourage us. While there’s nothing wrong with this, we should also read difficult books, books that will challenge our thinking. Even if we disagree with the book, it will make us question and think about our theology.
In summary from my notes (I did make some on this occasion!), here’s what he said:
Theology is important – how we teach about God will affect and shape young people’s lives.
Going or got it? – are you still learning, questioning, or have you got it all?
Dialogue or diatribe? – are you discussing with others? are you living in the real world?
Passing or failing? – allowing space for doubt and questions, teaching young people well
Rhetoric or reality? – dying for answers, living for the questions. experience affects theology
Still unsure as to whether this meets the title of Theology of youth ministry, but still, it got us to think about how we use our theology in youth ministry.
That’s all my reflections on Eastbourne done now – I’m out of questions and notes raised from the weekend. Still praying about some things, and taking action on others, so you’ll probably see those work themselves out over the next few months as and when I blog on them.
SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERS November 25, 2005
During a seminar at Eastbourne, I wrote on my notepad ‘Do I provide enough support to volunteers?’ I was listening to a seminar about the cost of working with the excluded. They talked about our motivation and our support systems. I have a very good support system – a great staff team, friends inside and outside of church I can talk to, and regular meetings with certain key people. But my thought then (and now) is what about volunteers? As full timers, we’re encouraged to seek out all this support, but do we encourage our volunteers to do the same? Do we support them? Do they have people to talk to? After all, they are doing a full time job and youthwork on top of that! Our volunteers are often just as busy and tired (if not more) than we are. I like to encourage my volunteers to be a part of a house group, but don’t want to put more pressure on them to attend another church meeting! Do you have one to one meetings with your volunteers to offer them support and ask how they are doing?
This is something I don’t have cracked. I find it hard to get the balance between offering support, and intefering or putting pressure on them. I would hope my volunteers think I support them, but should I be more pro-active in this?
I’ve seen volunteer contracts, have even written my own, but it doesn’t feel right to me, perhaps its not my style, and when I’ve tried to use it before, it hasn’t really worked. I prefer my support to be informal rather than formal. My volunteers seem happy at the moment, I just hope it continues. I hope that as I continue to get to know them, my support will be more obvious and helpful!
THE REST OF RUTH November 24, 2005
After not really remembering much about Ruth Ch2, I thought it might be an idea to see what else I could remember from the other chapters. So here are my recollections of the rest of the main sessions.
Ch1 – Roy Crowne – Commitment. Ruth made a massive commitment to Naomi by leaving her home and returning with Naomi. God requires commitment from us.
Ch2 – Katei Kirby – see post below
Ch3 – Steve Chalke – How our Christololgy should affect our missiology, which should affect our ecclisiology. He also said something about partnering with community organisations, showing Jesus’ love in a practical way. All this was related to Ruth, but all I can remember now is how God challenged me to look at working in our community.
Ch4 – Danny Brierley – threw his shoes at people (refering to Boaz sealing the deal), what we do may have a greater end we will not see, just like Ruth and Boaz were great grandparents of David, who Jesus then descended from.
Strange what you remember!
HOW CAN I BE A BETTER BOAZ? November 24, 2005
At Eastbourne, Katei Kirby spoke on Chapter 2 of Ruth. (The main sessions took us through the book of Ruth.) Although I can’t remember the detail (get the tape from ICC if you’re interested) Katei was talking about Boaz and Ruth as characters, and how we as people relate to them. She encouraged us to ask ourselves if we were more like Ruth or Boaz. Ruth being lost, unsure of her future, looking for help and protection. Boaz being the strong one, being able to help, offering guidance and protection.
At this time in my life, I identified more with Boaz, and so wrote on my notepad towards the end of the session – How can I be a better Boaz?. I guess I’m asking two questions. Firstly, how is Boaz like a youth worker? and secondly what can I learn from Boaz about being a youthworker?
Boaz is full of integrity, he is generous, he looks out for Ruth. Apart from that, I’m not sure how else I can answer the questions! Perhaps I need to buy the tape! Reflecting nearly a week after the conference isn’t a good idea! I appear to have forgotten what I was thinking at the time.
GREAT DAY YESTERDAY November 23, 2005
Yesterday, hubby and I spent the day in London. We did the National Gallery, Covent Garden, Davenports Magic Shop, London Eye, and Harrods!
It was great! Loved the London Eye, just couldn’t stop looking at the houses of parliament all lit up. Harrods was fun too. In fact, it was cheaper to buy a bottle of Coca Cola from there than it was at London Eye!
Once home, we had a top homemade meal of millie’s macaroni (I lived with someone called Millie once who made a marvellous macaroni cheese with leeks, bacon and sweetcorn) and chocolate pots! All eaten in front of Dragons Den, and Make me a million on the TV.
great stuff!
THE BEACH AT EASTBOURNE November 23, 2005
During the early day at Eastbourne, we were encouraged to take a walk along the beach and spend some time with God. This I did, and had a strong desire to go swimming (but decided it was far to cold for that!)
I began to think how the time I had spent in Eastbourne so far was like the sea. The waves crashing onto the shore, one after another – like waves of God’s love crashing over me. Then I thought how often I seem to spend most of my time at the other end of the beach, away from the sea, working hard, with no time to spend time with God. Occasionally I might run and dip my toe into the sea, because I know I need God. This just isn’t good enough. I need and want to be in the sea, or on the edge of the sea, experiencing, knowing God’s love, being with God every moment of every day.
Of course, it’s a lovely picture, but working it out in practise is hard. I have on my desk now a stone from Eastbourne beach. It has an odd shape with a few hard edges. For that stone to become a round pebble, it needs to be in the water, being shaped by the force of the waves. Me too, I need my God to shape me. I need and want to be in the water.
GENERAL REFLECTIONS ON EASTBOURNE November 21, 2005
I’m back, exhausted and yet refreshed. Have lots of things to think and pray through (expect reflections to appear over the next fortnight.) Also have lots of work to do this week!
I enjoyed the youthwork conference at Eastbourne. Highlights were the early day for full timers and the main sessions.
The early day was a time set aside for reflection, with times of worship and led reflection on the story of the prodigal son. Being told to go and spend two hours spending time with God was great! I had a beautiful time walking along the beach praying and reflecting on the previous two sessions.
The main sessions were based on the book of Ruth. Speakers were good, encouraging, and the worship led by Andy Flannagan was great.
I returned home feeling encouraged and refreshed, though I haven’t really learnt or heard anything new about youthwork. Having been to the conference before, I had expected this. The conference is aimed at volunteers, and so I did not find the seminars very inspiring or helpful (in general). The volunteer I took with me however found them to be very inspiring, informative and helpful!
I will probably attend this conference again in the future, again with volunteers in tow.
More detailled reflections to come!
THE BIG PLAN! November 12, 2005
It has taken hours to organise this weekend! It started a month or so ago, when I looked at booking a train to Leicester and back so I could attend a youth event at Leicester Cathedral. There wasn’t a train back that left late enough for me, so I gave up on the train idea and decided to drive. I then sorted out how I would drive up in the morning, stay with a friend in the afternoon, do the event and drive home again. Simple!
No! This week, hubby and I realised that we would both be driving down the M1 late Saturday night. I didn’t want to drive in the first place, so we figured he could stop off and pick me up on the way! After a lot of searching train times and contacting friends up there, we hatched the following plan.
I am to get the train to Leicester this afternoon, walk to the cathedral, enjoy the event, walk back to the station and get a train to friends whp will let me stay at theirs for a couple of hours before hubby comes to pick me up to drive the rest of the way home! Sounds simple, but believe me it took ages to form this big plan!
The event is a 11-14s event called Wildfire which is organised by Leicester Diocese. I was involved in planning the event when I was back there, and I’m leading a drama workshop as part of it. Should be good!
feeling yuk, but some good stuff too November 10, 2005
Am not feeling too good of late, I spent 13 continuous hours in bed last night. I just feel tired, and my eyes can’t cope with much light.
Good meeting with a local youthworker yesterday. There seems to be a desire amongst youthworkers to set up a local network. I’ve still a few youthworkers to meet, but hopefully we can get something organised in the new year.
Anyway, after three hours work I feel like going back to bed!
