tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394606.post114012464622011747..comments2009-07-13T19:39:57.936-04:00markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18075996753177921324noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394606.post-1141072814207829592006-02-27T15:40:00.000-05:002006-02-27T15:40:00.000-05:00Regarding the size of the church. Do you think that there will be emerging churches that will be mega churches ?<BR/><BR/>In this, I mean that there will be communities where there will be 15 - 25 individuals in these communities but they can be and will be networked into a larger gathering ?<BR/><BR/>From the ym standpoint, I think that it is very important to make the standpoint from community and having them live in community and be missional.<BR/><BR/>They are "born" for community. Thus, the shift for them can be easily, if leaders are willing to move in that direction.Wave_Lenghtshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11658741692973255432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394606.post-1140407312612625762006-02-19T22:48:00.000-05:002006-02-19T22:48:00.000-05:00I think the very mindset of 'youth' programming is part of what is/will shifting. Initiating persons into the life of the community and into missional living takes on very organic forms in many of these new faith communities. New people start investigating Christianity, the community shifts, adjusts, creates a new organic space or network to welcome, nurture and include new people in the life of faith. <BR/><BR/>What I can imagine happening differs from more familiar models, as you noted, by a dramatic move away from programming as a structure and more into a communal model. Seems to me that as children move into adolescent experiences, the community of faith will adjust creating networks of relationships (mentoring and otherwise) along with opportunities for discovery, worship, exploration and missional living in ways that are meaningful for students and the community. <BR/><BR/>A greater responsibility for inclusion, attenetiveness and spiritual formation falls on the community as a whole for creating opporutnities for students' developmental needs as well as creating necessary space for students to discover and explore the faith of the community and take it on as their own.Kylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05822747513882472716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394606.post-1140324811336337502006-02-18T23:53:00.000-05:002006-02-18T23:53:00.000-05:00I think this is a good conversation to have. I have not read much on this. As a parent of a teen and preteen it is interesting to me to read how the emerging church ideas will affect them. Keep talking about this.<BR/><BR/>Russ<BR/><BR/>www.spiritualconversations.bogspot.comRusshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13148539286271476746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394606.post-1140224546640310402006-02-17T20:02:00.000-05:002006-02-17T20:02:00.000-05:00good to see you ryan.markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18075996753177921324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2394606.post-1140130039586910852006-02-16T17:47:00.000-05:002006-02-16T17:47:00.000-05:00Mark,<BR/>First know that I meant no disrespect by saying that youth pastors and emerging churches don't compute...<BR/><BR/>Keep in mind that a primary form of emerging churches is the smaller, networked, organic, extended family -- ranging from 15 to 40 people. If it is bigger than that, it is often networked. Thus, the training of the youth is often shared by the parents, but also each parent takes a greater role in the child-raising. <BR/><BR/>Your other point about lack of staff is the other key -- there are few paid pastors in emerging churches, if at all. So it is not only youth pastors that may not be paid staff, but senior pastors, associate pastors, and others.<BR/><BR/>Yes, we continue to need adult leaders to model to our youth what it is to be Christian. We need cultural understanding amongst the generations so that they know how to interpret and understand cultures other than their own. We need leaders to help facilitate mission amongst our youth within their peer groups. <BR/><BR/>These functions all need perpetuating, I'm just not sure if it will still be filled by what we have known as the youth pastor...<BR/><BR/>Peace,<BR/>RyanRyan Bolgerhttp://www.thebolgblog.comnoreply@blogger.com