LEVEL OF MEDIA CONSUMPTION, PARTICULARLY ONLINE

LEVEL OF MEDIA CONSUMPTION, PARTICULARLY ONLINE

Digital Generation or Net Generation

Today, the average teenager spends more than 72 hours a week using electronic media — cell phones, Internet, television, music and video games — according to a 2006 study.

They related to technology in a different way than we boomers did. "To them the digital technology is no more intimidating than a VCR or toaster," I said. "For the first time in history, children are more comfortable, knowledgeable, and literate than their parents with an innovation central to society. And it is through the use of the digital media that the Net Generation will develop and superimpose its culture on the rest of society. Boomers, stand back. Already these kids are learning, playing, communicating, working, and creating communities very differently than their parents. They are a force for social transformation." Excerpt: 'Grown Up Digital' Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your WorldBy Don Tapscott

Generation Now

Young, wired and living life on the digital edge — meet the Millennials



I don't believe we can reach the now generation with the methods that we used when we were younger. Have you seen what our children (3-7) are doing these days? Our teens today are way more advanced than we were. The NET Generation 15 to 25 age group.
If we are going to reach those that are younger than we are, we must learn how to reach them.
Then the 26 to 34 group.

Generation Now Net

Young, wired and living life on the digital edge — meet the Millennials

You know you’re a millennial if... (so they say)

• Parented by boomers, you’ve been lavished attention, high expectations, and a “nothing is too good for my baby” budget of learning toys, after school activities and one-on-one face time.

• You’re a high-achiever. Tested to death, the quality of your education has consumed society — from the State House to the White House. But you’re confident you can live up to all those high expectations.

• You’ve got it together. Unhealthy behavior and trauma — including suicide, serious violent crime and pregnancy rates — are declining in your age group.

• You love to collaborate and thrive on regular feedback. You value honesty and hard work — and you seek out the same in creative partners.

• You’re praise-driven. You’re never more satisfied than when you’ve been commended for a job well done.

• You’re totally at ease in a multi-cultural world. For the first time in history, popular culture and advertising are full of people from different backgrounds, and the civic landscape of business and politics is much more diverse than when your folks came along. Over 40 percent of you are non-white.

• You live to make and manipulate culture, creating and sharing content online on a daily basis.

SO THE CHURCH IS GOING TO REACH THESE TEENS AND YOUNGER ADULTS?

• I work a few hours at Mex Itali during the lunch hour. I see the parents and their kids. What the kids are playing with, is not "jack" or play toys, they are the real cell phones, and computer generated laptops. They are on the Net at age three to five.

to conti... sure, right......

Study: Christianity No Longer Looks Like Jesus
Young Americans today are more skeptical and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago, says a new study.

Young Americans today are more skeptical and resistant to Christianity than were people of the same age just a decade ago, says a new study.Negative perceptions toward the Christian faith have outweighed the positive as a growing percentage of younger Americans associate with a faith outside Christianity.

Only 16 percent of non-Christians aged 16 to 29 years old said they have a "good impression" of Christianity, according to a report released Monday by The Barna Group.

A decade ago, the vast majority of Americans outside the Christian faith, including young people, felt favorably toward Christianity’s role in society.

Young people have an even lesser positive impression of evangelicals. Only 3 percent of 16- to 29-year-olds who are not of the Christian faith express favorable views of evangelicals. In the previous generation, 25 percent of young people had positive associations toward evanglicals

Having worked with youth for years, having four children myself, I would suggest what youth see in church, is not necessary what they see in the work place, or in society in general.

There is a reason why youth do not continue in church following their teen years!!

DEFINITION OF THE PURPOSE OR PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY

part two

With these theological considerations in mind, we ask ourselves,

"HOW DO WE ‘DO’ MINISTRY?’

And the term that is common in ministry circles today is ‘philosophy."

1A PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY

The philosophy of ministry is the application of our theology in the context of ministry. It answers questions like Why? How? And What?

• "A system of principles for guidance in practical affairs."
• "A system of principles that form the underlying biblical, theological foundation upon which one’s actions and practices are based."

One definition that has been given for POM is "the formulated system or belief regarding the ministry of the local church." It seeks to answer questions such as "What is the purpose of our ministry?" How do we accomplish this? We are thankful that the Lord has answered these questions and has left us a manual for ministry. Ephesians 4:11-16.

2A THE PRESUPPOSITIONS OF OUR PHILOSOPHY

We believe that the Bible is God’s inerrant Word, and thus it has total authority over what we believe and how we act. The Bible teaches that it is instantly and sovereignly inspired by God and is therefore to be submitted to as His living Word addressed to us. Isaiah 55:11, Romans 15:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:19-21

We believe that the church is God’s fundamental instrument in this age through which he communicates His saving grace. Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-22, 4:11-12.

We believe that the church is to have a God-centered focus in all its ministries, striving to bring honor and glory to the God who brought it in to existence. First Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 5:11,14, Colossians 3:23.

We believe that the local church is the primary source of maturity to believers. Ephesians 4:11-12

We believe that the church’s mission of world proclamation of the gospel is still unfinished. Acts 1:1-8 and Matthew 24:14. There are still children / youth who are still living in this area and need to know about the Lord Jesus Christ.

3A GENERAL PURPOSES AND GOALS

1B Our Purpose

• 1C Definition: that for which we were made and for which we ultimately strive.
• 2C Maximum Purpose: To glorify God and bring honor to His name by being conformed to the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 43:7, Romans 8:29, 15:5-6, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 1 Peter2:21, and 1 John 2:6, 3:2.

2B Our Goal

• 1C Definition: a series of stepping-stones by which we reach a purpose; accomplishable, attainable and measurable by time and performance.

• 1C: To teach the whole counsel of Scripture, focusing on a clear presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Desiring to excite a love for God’s Word and his church.
• Bigelow Church Elders have clearly stated their position what we mean by salvation. Grace Alone, Christ alone, Faith alone. And we want to be sure in the matter of presenting salvation to children that we are clear to them.

4A A BIBLICAL STRATEGY (APPROACH) FOR MINISTRY

1B FOR THE PARENT"

The central ministry of Bigelow Church is the continuous imparting of the Scriptures.

FOOTNOTE: This next point is one what we really want to develop

• The youth’s spiritual instruction is the responsibility of the parents. Deuteronomy 6:7 and Ephesians 6:4. Biblically, their responsibility lengthens further than just seeing that children receive instruction. The primary emphasis of our children’s ministry is to support the biblical position of the home. In supporting the ministry of the parents, we undertake to be a readily available resource to the home.
• Additionally, the parents are to train up their sons and daughters in the nurture and counsel of the Lord, rather than the church being a competing force or separate entity of influence from the home.
• There are cases where the church has to assist the single mom, or dad, or unsaved parents, or other situations. We will work with those parents as well.
  

2B FOR THE CHILDREN

• We realize that many children are only exposed to Christian teaching in the Sunday Morning time. And since AWANA is moving to Sunday Morning, it’s going to be the only time some children will have Christian teaching, except for those who home school or have their children in a Christian school. Maybe later the small care groups will have a ministry to the children as well.
• Secondly, the Sunday Morning activities are designed to communicate the maximum in spiritual content and application for each developmental age group. AWANA seems to do that well. And AWANA is known for exposing children to Scripture memory and the practical understanding of God’s Word.

3B FOR THE CHURCH:

• To teach children from the earliest age the full character of God.
• To present the gospel to all children, praying that God will save them
• To introduce and develop the concept of worship through example and practice, to encourage a respectful response to God.
• To teach the Lordship of Jesus Christ which is an outflow of true salvation.
• To teach and model practical application of the Word through the process of discipleship to adults and youth and be are a resource to them. It’s more than just teaching a lesson in the class room, but modeling the lesson in life.
• To intercede on behalf of children and adults through prayer.
• To assist parents in the training of their children and be a resource to them. That is, to be available to parents outside the class room.
• To provide an atmosphere where adults can develop their gifts and abilities in ministry. Christian Education and Spiritual giftedness.
• To provide a clean, and loving atmosphere for every child committed to our care.
• To provide an attractive, charming, and challenging place for children to desire to learn about God. They will desire to come back next week.
  
  
  Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant Proof Read by Charity Whisnant

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ABOUT THE POSITION OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND SPIRITUAL GIFTEDNESS

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Charles E. Whisnant

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I was appointed to the church staff of Bigelow Church - June 2007

• "If people's lives are going to be transformed, biblical information must be conveyed in a structure designed to facilitate the implementation of that knowledge in their daily lives and to hold them accountable to a process of change after they've heard it." Brad Bigney of Grace Fellowship (Florence, KY) (2007)

THIS IS CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & THE DEVELOPMENT OF ONE'S SPIRITUAL GIFTEDNESS

This statement by Brad sounds like Ephesians 4:11-12 "And He gave some... pastors/ teachers for the perfection of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."Something that I have had the privilege of doing for more than 38 years.

ROANOKE BAPTIST TEMPLE (Roanoke, Virginia)

• I remember (its getting harder these days) some 43 years ago in my home church, Roanoke Baptist Temple, in Roanoke Virginia. I was appointed as Youth Pastor when I was 16.3 years old. As a 10th grader at Jefferson Senior High School commenced upon the ministry as a Youth Pastor. For the next twenty-seven months I experienced one of the best times of ministry that I have ever experienced.
• During those 27 months of ministry (Dec 1963 - Feb 1966) with those teenagers and young adults we developed and trained and taught how to produce a life long meaning of Ephesians 4:11-12. "The perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry." Without really knowing what I was doing, and without any other person helping me (except my dad/mom) we developed an Ephesians 4:12 ministry. I have used this biblical idea from the start of ministry.
• To see a transformed life produced in young kids, teens or young adult and even adults has been a ministry that Charity and I have had for our entire married life.
• To produce an Ephesians 4:12 saint has been the ministry objective in every ministry that Charity and I have had.To produce this Ephesians 4:12 transformed lives, does take information, application, implementation and accountability.
  

DEFINITION OF THE PURPOSE OR PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY

Part One

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DEFINITION:

• 
  MINISTRY:
  When we speak of ministry, we are referring to how the church conducts itself both within itself and with the world while we wait for the return of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
• 
  When we begin asking questions about ministry (What is it? How is it done?) we must agree that our answers our bound to Scripture. Here is the bad news. There is no place in the Bible where the particulars of youth ministry or of a youth pastor’s job are taught. But here is the good news: the existence of ministry for believers by believers for God’s glory is taught in Scripture, and the general calling of a pastor is clear.
• 
  Youth Ministry is simply a practical, contemporary extension of this ministry mindset. The same would be true of Children’s Ministry, Special Ministry, Young Married Ministry, etc.
• 
  All these modern terms are simply an attempt by local churches to extend the ministry of the local church beyond that of corporate worship to the people that make up the church body. Scripture has plenty to say about this.
• 
  As a general principle, what we do is based on what we believe. What we should believe is based on a faithful study of Scripture and the organization of the teaching contained therein. This is also known as theology. Therefore, theology is the foundation on which our ministries should be built and conducted.

PYRAMID OF MINISTRY

Methodology
•
Philosophy
•
Theology

As under-shepherds of the church of Jesus Christ, we have the responsibility to be good caretakers of the spiritual gifts given to us, the people commissioned to our care, and the resources that the Lord has provided to do ministry. This can be accomplished only with an accurate view of the following theological pillars, upon which the church is built:

• Authentic concept of God
• Actual account of His Word
• Exact belief of the Gospel
• Factual panorama of the Church

A particular theology to consider is that of the church what is known as ecclesiology.

Wayne Gruden, in his Systematic Theology, defines the church as

• "the community of all true believers for all time."
  
• Being more specific and referring to a local church gathering of believers, it is referred to as a local church.
  
• The local church’s primary means for public congregating is to participate in corporate worship.
  
• It is up to the leadership (elders/pastors) in that church to determine, based on the church’s culture, resources, and particular needs, what to provide for its members beyond corporate worship to help facilitate fellowship, additional teaching and the means to practice the "one another’s."

Another important theological consideration is that of the family, and its relationship to the church.

• 
  There are people today who would advocate a high view of the family, to the detriment of the church. On the other side of the spectrum, there are parents who abstain from all parental responsibilities and see the church as an after-school program to teach their children and teenagers some manners, discipline, and spirituality. The Bible gives us a balanced perspective.
• 
  Let me say from the outset that the Bible teaches us that parents have the obligation to raise their children and as a result, should be the primary means of discipleship of their children. But let me also be clear that parents sometimes have limitations in raising their children. These liabilities, or limitations would include a severed relationship due to divorce, challenges in communicating with a child or teenage son or daughter, or if nothing else, the simple fact that parents do not have all the spiritual gifts and therefore need others to help.

With these theological considerations in mind, we ask ourselves,

"HOW DO WE ‘DO’ MINISTRY?’
Part Two

Drafted by Charles E. Whisnant, Proof Read By Charity Whisnant