The age of one-size-fits-all youth ministry is over. It has to be. We live in a dynamic time filled with diversity. This is an exciting time to be in ministry to youth. Our world is smaller than ever before. Cultures are not only clashing but blending to create new expressions of culture. In this new era [...]
Archive for the ‘Teens’ Category
Each Student is a Culture (art of connecting pt. 4)
Posted: September 20, 2011 in Adolescent Development, emerging adults, extended adolescence, Spirituality, systemic abandonment, Technology, Teens, Youth MinistryTags: Cultural artifact, Cultural Intelligence, David Livermore, God, IPod, Religion and Spirituality, Youth Ministry
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Expectations of our Youth (art of connecting pt. 3)
Posted: September 15, 2011 in systemic abandonment, TeensTags: Christ, Down syndrome, God, Jesus, Special Olympics, Student, Youth Ministry
In an experiment, piranha were placed in a large tank separated from their food by a see through glass divider. After several days of ramming their heads against the glass divider the piranha learned that it was a futile effort to try and get the food. The glass divider was then removed yet they starved to death while [...]
Cultivating a Spirit of Learning (art of connecting pt. 2)
Posted: September 14, 2011 in Adolescent Development, systemic abandonment, Teens, Youth MinistryTags: High school, Kampala, Student exchange program, Uganda, United States
Immaculate was a foreign exchange student from Kampala, Uganda. She was new to our country and culture. When asked about how she felt when people noticed she was different she responded: “It’s okay to ask. People sometimes notice something special about me – my accent, the way I look – and that’s okay. It’s just [...]
Building Bridges (art of connecting pt. 1)
Posted: September 8, 2011 in Addiction, Adolescent Development, Depression, drug prevention, emerging adults, extended adolescence, LGBTQ Youth, Mental Illness, Parenting, Spirituality, Suicide, systemic abandonment, Teens, Youth Ministry, Youth With DisabilitiesOne of the Apostle Paul’s most famous speeches took place at Mars Hill, the Areopagus, in Athens. He noted that they appeared to be a very religious lot of people due to the sheer number of statues they had to their gods. In a brilliant move he identified the one statue that was for the [...]
Disabled Youth and Youth Ministry Gatherings (pt. 6 – marketing to disabled youth and families)
Posted: August 31, 2011 in Spirituality, Teens, Youth With DisabilitiesTags: Accessibility, Disability, Education, God, Hearing impairment, Student, Youth Ministry, Youth worker
It is not enough for a youth ministry program to simply be ready to serve the Disabled Youth Community. Rather, the ministry should be proactive in making the Disabled Youth Community aware of it’s accessability. It is hoped that any ministry targeting youth with disabilities will be in contact from the outset with any known families or organizations [...]
Disabled Youth and Youth Ministry Gatherings (pt. 5 – physical disabilities)
Posted: August 31, 2011 in Spirituality, Teens, Youth With DisabilitiesTags: Disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Hearing impairment, Student, Youth Ministry, Youth worker
As a general modification to the typical youth ministry gathering, it is necessary to accept different types of body positioning for people with disabilities – some people may need to stand up or move during group, and this activity should not be considered rude. Youth workers may have to keep group meetings short or schedule frequent breaks [...]
Disabled Youth and Youth Ministry Gatherings (pt. 4 – cognitive disabilities)
Posted: August 30, 2011 in Adolescent Development, Spirituality, Teens, Youth With DisabilitiesTags: Developmental disability, Disability, Education, Intellectual disability, Learning, Learning community, Student, Youth worker
Accommodations for students with cognitive impairments can include the use of visual cues, mixed media, and the repetition of major points. Experiential exercises is often effective for a young person with intellectual or cognitive disabilities. Role-playing works well for a person with developmental disabilities – the process of playing a role themselves helps them to internalize [...]
Disabled Youth and Youth Ministry Gatherings (pt. 2 – visual impairments)
Posted: August 25, 2011 in Teens, Youth With DisabilitiesTags: Blindness, Braille, Disability, Vision and Reading Aids, Visual impairment
Youth who are visually impaired need to orient themselves to the group setting in a different manner than those who are sighted. They will need to understand the group environment, including the position of all the participants and the format or structure of learning activities such as readings, or breakout discussions, so that they can prepare for them in [...]
Disabled Youth and Youth Ministry Gatherings (pt. 1 – overview)
Posted: August 24, 2011 in Spirituality, systemic abandonment, Teens, Youth With DisabilitiesTags: Disabilities, Disability, Disabled, God, Student, Youth, Youth Ministry, Youth worker
This is the first in a series of posts on youth ministry and youth with disabilities. While accommodations may be needed to integrate people with disabilities into your youth ministry group settings, it is important to first emphasize what all group members have in common. Youth workers can emphasize to the group that, despite a wide variety [...]
