Conspire Conference

Ray and I are sitting at OHare, watching flights get cancelled and delayed...and people having meltdowns. Seriously, people? Is exclaiming Christ's name and obscenities appropriate in front of small children?

We've lost our way. As a culture.

But being at Conspire strengthened my conviction that the church--filled with the most amazing children's ministers who are visionary and committed and servant-hearted--has not lost its way.

Some at the conference say our teenagers are "graduating from God." Studies and statistics prove it, they say. And it just makes me wonder, 'What generation hasn't believed that our teenagers were going to hell in a handbasket'? Stats and studies actually differ on this issue.

A case in point: Check out this article "Busting the Drop-Out Myth" from Group Magazine: http://archive.youthministry.com/details.asp?ID=6107 It'll make you shudder the next time you hear stats and studies bandied around.

So, Chicken Little, is the sky falling? Are Christian families failing? Is the church failing Christian families? Is God no longer on his throne? Are we as pathetic and ineffective as the stats would say we are?

What do you think? Are you reaching families? Are kids coming regularly? Are faith discussions happening at least once a week at home? Are adults growing in their relationship with Christ--so they're more able to share their faith and model it for their children? Don't let the big bad wolf of statistics rob you of seeing what's in front of you. How is God using you to make a difference in this generation of children and families? That's the real truth you need to walk in.

Comments

[Henry Zonio]

It was great meeting you, Christine. I wish we had more time to talk. Anyway, once again, thank you for standing up and being that voice that says, "Hey! Wait a minute! Have you thought of it (whatever "it" is) this way?"

I wholeheartedly say AMEN that God is on the throne and we need to stop acting like He's not. I think that if we remember this as we do children's ministry and adult discipleship (because we as CM ppl need to be in the job of discipling adults so they can disciple children) then we won't be browbeating... we'll be encouraging and cheering people on to be who God created them to be... agents of change in this world who work to bring a little bit of the Kingdom here to this earth.

I find that as I have been cheering parents on and letting them know they CAN be those faith models in easy ways, they start to do have those conversations with their kids. Maybe they don't start being that family that sits down after dinner every day, reads a Bible story and prays. But parents are using everyday moments to point their children to God in little, yet profound ways.

[Henry Zonio]

One more thing... thanks for pointing out the stats thing. Oh, it so bugs me when stats are thrown about to support this conclusion and that conclusion. Yes, they are good as metrics to see how things are going, but there is always more than one set of lenses when it comes to interpreting what stats mean.

[Brenna]

Those negative stats may just be a storm that the church must go through ...read The Church of the Perfect Storm, edited by Len Sweet ...http://www.amazon.com/Church-Perfect-Storm-Leonard-Sweet/dp/0687650895/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209214462&sr=8-1
or read my chapter summaries on my blog.
The church must head straight into those storm, ride the waves, and push through.

[Courtney Walsh]

I tend to forget I have a brain to think through everything I hear... so thank you for reminding me to ask myself this question. I had the honor of meeting you at the conference - and so much of what you said is still churning around in my mind, waiting to be grabbed onto and put into action.

Thank you so much for taking the time to be there...

and yes, I believe we are reaching our children... and I never ever thought of it as 'what generation didn't think teens were going to hell in a handbasket?' - what a great point. It was easy to let those stats discourage, but you're so right... there really is a lot of GOOD going on too.

I do feel in some ways we sometimes fail Christian parents, though. Sometimes I wonder if we're equipping them to do this whole parenting thing. It's definitely a challenge!

More churning going on... :)

[Chris Yount Jones]

Henry,
It was great to meet you too! I've really enjoyed your perspective in the blogosphere...so it was great to meet you in real time!
Keep up the great work!
Chris

[Timothy]

Great observations. Sometimes when I hear about the dire forecasts, I have to remind myself, "Who is my God?"

But I do have a "monkey-wrench" kind of question: if every generation has wondered about the future of the next, is there something we're not seeing in our perception of the next generation? Could it be the next generation doesn't do things the way we did, so we conclude that they're heading down the wrong path? Or is there something deeper going on here?

[Chris Yount Jones]

Timothy,
That really makes me think. Why is it? I tend to think most of the concern comes from a good place--we love the next generation so much and we want so much from them. But then, you're right, they're not like us so we start to fear they may not turn out the way we dream. It's the old "generational gap" thing, perhaps.

I think the cool thing is that God is more committed to the next generation than we ever will be.

And yet, I love that we have a "fire in our belly" to advocate, worry over, pray about, and plan for the next generation to get all that God has given us--and more.

Thanks for your thoughts!