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How do you define "program"?
If you've read any sort of youth ministry book in the last few years, you've probably heard how youth ministry as a whole needs to move away from program-based or program-driven ministry. The word program has been the new devil-word in youth ministry. But I haven't had any author really explain exactly what is a program (or if I read it, I don't remember). So is meeting once or twice a week a program? Is taking your group to camp every summer a program? Is doing a mission trip every summer a program? Is doing the holiest of ministry tactics, the coveted small group, doing a program? So how would you define "program" and have you tried to move away from program-driven youth ministry? If so, what have you done?
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- jasonbh...
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- 3 years ago
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I agree that "program" has been demonized, which is silly.
I define program as the structured times in our ministry. Sundays, Wednesday, events. Outside of that I try and connect with students relationally, but I'm also doing that systematically, so I guess you could call that a program as well.
I think the authors are trying to make the case that just setting up a Bible study time and a game does not constitute ministry, you have to be relationally involved in the lives of your students.
Which, is really a no-brainer, but I think it is a reaction to the huge mega-events of the '80s & '90s.
Programming is neutral, it can be good or bad. What these authors should be doing is explaining what a GOOD program looks like, not be anti-program.
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program: the means to an end. |
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My opinion of the current trend away from program driven ministry still requires programs. Instead of having programs being the driver, we need vision to be the driver. That vision may be relationships, community, discipleship, evangelism, etc. The programs are still the vehicle that allow us to build into the teen's lives, but they are not the focus. |
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The opposite of being program-driven is being purpose-driven... It is not the absence of programs, rather it is a ministry that is intentional about it's programs and the purpose it serves. |
