I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on how much Youth Ministry has evolved in the past several years. I know some of you reading this have been in ministry far longer than I, while many of you are relatively newer to the ranks. I began as a Core Member in 1991. Suffice to say, the Catholic Youth Ministry landscape has changed dramatically since then.
So at the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, I thought I’d take some of you on a trip back in youth ministry time. Jump in the DeLorean and let’s get to it.
Many adults today tell me that the “average teenager” couldn’t care less about the Bible. Extensive firsthand experience, however, demands that I humbly reply, “LOL” (“laugh out loud” in text-happy vernacular). I led my first teen Bible study almost 20 years ago and, while teen culture has dramatically changed, their desires have not. Teens want truth, and the Catholic Church has it.
I confess – I am a gadget geek. I have a few close friends who are Apple fanatics and a couple of years ago they bought me a Mac laptop and a year later an iPhone. I must admit that I have had to watch the amount of time I spend on “screens” as I never want it to replace face to face or verbal communication. I may be into technology, but I still believe that relational ministry will always be what helps us form a true communion with each other. One thing I am always looking to save is time. Here are 5 iPod/iPhone applications that I use all the time that you may want to check out.
Objective: The goal of this night is to look at the advantages and disadvantages of many of today’s technological advances, especially those in communication, and to encourage the middle school youth to use these forms of technology in the right ways. Overview: Advances in technology over the past 20 years have provided us with [...]
Goal for the Life Night: To help the teens realize and understand the need for more honest, humble and direct communication, (both spoken and unspoken) in an increasingly impersonal and technological culture. Life Night at a Glance: Teens love to talk – if they are not talking with someone, they are on the phone, [...]
Goal for the Life Night: To help the teens better understand how important it is that we trust God completely, if we are to live according to His design. Highlighting how technological advancements and manipulation affects human life, the overall goal is to present the totality of the Church’s teachings on the dignity and value [...]