The 2009 Discipleship Ministries Fall Day of Training challenged the attendees with taking spiritual formation to this generation. Dillon Burroughs was the key note speaker that presented this challenge. Dillon is in touch with today’s culture as a professor at Tennessee’s Temple University and as a bestselling author on issues of faith and culture. He presented the great need that we have as leaders and teachers to connect with today’s generation. One of the first keys is maintaining a positive attitude. The church cannot afford to ignore or simply lament the postmodern culture. Rather, we find ourselves in the middle of a great opportunity to make disciples, similar to the time of the New Testament culture.
How can we reach this highly connected generation? Leaders are to create a movement rather than a ministry. A ministry simply meets a need, whereas a movement is a tribe of individuals untied for a common cause. This shifts the focus of discipleship off the leader and the curriculum onto Christ and living out the life of a servant. It is not about what we do but how do we live. A movement will put the students out in the forefront.
How can we reach this highly connected generation? Leaders are to create a movement rather than a ministry. A ministry simply meets a need, whereas a movement is a tribe of individuals untied for a common cause. This shifts the focus of discipleship off the leader and the curriculum onto Christ and living out the life of a servant. It is not about what we do but how do we live. A movement will put the students out in the forefront.
Dillon Burroughs
Speaking of our students, today’s young adults communicate via text messages, Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc. They spend hours watching YouTube and download their music and entertainment. They are highly mobile, very visual and thrive on making all things digital. With that said how are you communicating? If someone Googles your ministry what will they find? Are you interactive? Is your ministry available on Facebook, or other social networking sites? Is teaching and sermons available as pod casts?
With that said it takes more than a cool web site to reach students. Technology will not substitute love. You have to connect into their social network. Dialogue with them, hear them out and become a part of their world. The opening that must be pursued is relationships. Students can use all the latest technology and yet still be lonely. Church ministry then must strive to be very personal. There needs to be time to connect with one another. Discipleship still thrives in community. Each person must be loved, encouraged and held accountable in Christ.
As you plan for a new year of ministry, take account of how you will connect with this digital generation. Plan a time to get alone with God and rediscover who you are and what your group is to become. Confidently move forward and fulfill the great commission to reach all ages and all peoples with this great message of God’s love!
With that said it takes more than a cool web site to reach students. Technology will not substitute love. You have to connect into their social network. Dialogue with them, hear them out and become a part of their world. The opening that must be pursued is relationships. Students can use all the latest technology and yet still be lonely. Church ministry then must strive to be very personal. There needs to be time to connect with one another. Discipleship still thrives in community. Each person must be loved, encouraged and held accountable in Christ.
As you plan for a new year of ministry, take account of how you will connect with this digital generation. Plan a time to get alone with God and rediscover who you are and what your group is to become. Confidently move forward and fulfill the great commission to reach all ages and all peoples with this great message of God’s love!
ANNUAL TRAINING
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