professionalisation of christian youthwork?

This is something that I have been debating for quite some time now. Where is there a balance between getting the qualification, and proving an understanding of our work, and also realising the claling that God has placed upon a life? Which holds more value, and which shoudl hold more value in Church today? Obviously in society the qualification holds more value, but shoudl this also be the case within the Church as well? I wuld contend, that certainly a person needs to demonstrate an understanding in the field that that they are going to be involved in, and even gain some kind of qualification in it, but demonstrate a desire for ongoing wish to learn, experience and be open to different things within the sphere they are wanting to work in. But I would also contend, that we as Christians need to recognise, calling, gifting, ability, and the plans that God has for people's lives. I think if we go down the root of continually wanting the qualification, without exploring the calling, then we are going to lose something within the Church in the future.

being a pioneer

It is one of those things that has started to strike me more and more, that is the pioneering roll that a youthworker plays in ministry. Youth culture changes so quickly and the youthworker needs to be on top itk, and be able to be relevant to it, and also provide things, suggest ideas that all relate too in a certain way the culture is, but without dampening down the message in any way shape or form. what was relevant 10 years ago is not now, and so things need to be constantly in that developmental process so that they are able to connect with the people f the time. In DR. Who this kind of thing was referred to as a "perspective transformation", and I think this is what the pioneer, the youth worker need to have, a perspective transformation, as how they reach out will be different to so many different people, at different times.

Leona Lewis new song

I was listening tothe radio this monring, and the latest track by leona lewis came on, and I have to admit, I was horrified about some of the stuff in it. I am usually ok, about some songs, but one line in particular really got me about this song. toward the beginnng of the song, she suggested that if the love of the bloke she was with didn't pass the test, then she could find love else where. this does not give out good signals for our young people today, it destroys the idea of commitment, longevity, and many other things. Shame as I did like her bleeding love song, as I thought that might have been good to use with the Jesus of Nazerath film, but how can we expect different elements of our society to hold together, when public songs like this abvocate breakdown.

Progress?

Came across this great sign, whilst out in India recently: "progress is less about speed and much more to do with direction" thought this was very profound, for those of us in leadership in any shape manner or form, inside or outside of church.

Viewing of child protection?

How is it that people see child protection issues these days? there is certainly an argument that things have gone way to far as far as paper work is concerned, but how do organisations and people actually see child protection issues. Do we see them as protecting us as the workers? Do we see child protection as there to protect the young people? do we see child protection as creating a rod for our back? Do we see child protection as something we are prepared to go so far with, but not any further? I am sure there are lots of thoughts, and many other questions, but hopefully this will be a starting point.

Theology of winning

It is interesting listening to people discussing their relationship with their kids, or with the young people they work with, and how they describe that they can't "let young people win". win what you may ask, well win arguments, or win discussions, but it is the issue, of not allowing young people to win, or even the issue of winning itself that interests me. why is it as adults we are reluctant to be corrected, inspired, educated, or just learn from young people, why is it that we always feel that we have to be right, and not allow the openness of valuing the thoughts of our young people. And more to the point, do discussions have to be seen as won? is there not an argument for resolution, which is different that winning. For me winning implies that there is a looser, someone who is put down, and as much as I do agree with compeititon ins port, and thngs, I am not sure that competition and winning are useful elements in relationships in life.

10 commandments of child protection

I have recently come across a very interesting blog, that listed, almost the 10 commandments of blogging, and although it was doen slightly tongue in cheak, there was some sanity, and sobering thoghts behind them, so it got me thinking, could we construct the 10 commandments of Child Protection, or are there just too many to try and fit into the 10 commandments. Any thoughts at all, would be great.

Release our young people!!!!!

The more and more that I chat to other youth workers, and the more I read about things, there is a lot of chat about releasing young people into ministry in different ways, and in different forms. But yet, it still seems to be just chat. Although there is lots of good intentions, there is little action. It is time to take a risk, time to stop talking and act upon our feelings, and release our young people. visit www.rolltherock.org.uk and click on the release link

great line from Snow Patrol

In their song, "chasing cars", Snow Patrol have a great line which reads, "I need your grace, to remind me, of my own", I am unsure of their spirituality, or even if they have a relationship with God, but this line has struck me hard recently. We all need Gods grace, and isn't it a great thing that we aren't God, as we would struggle to show that level of Grace, but yet, we still need to acknowledge the amount of grace that we need from God, to remind us, of how much we need to show others. So when othersspeak out of turn, hurt us badly, or make comments that are unnecesary, unjust, and unhelpful, do we need to think about the Grace that God shows us when we do exactly that to him.

Money great, but what's the purpose?

there has recenlty been an anouncement that the government want to pour more money into the police and detached youth work, for work after school. this in essence sounds great, but part of me can't help wondering what the poitn is, or what the aim of this money is? If they are aimng to provide something constructive for young people, and offer them something that will give them hope, purpose and a future in their lives then great, but if they are only putting the money in, because people compalin about young people hanging around, then this can only be seen as a waste of money. what's the point in putting money into police and detahced youth work, unless you offer something tangeable, menaingful and constructive alongside it? Young people need to feel as though they have a place in society,r ather than just a group of people who are being policed out of sight all the time.

Spirtuality of boys

This is something that I intend looking into with my next masters assignment, but for now, it is fairly clear that boys and girls think differently, work differently, interact differently, process things differently, study differently, socialise differently, and thus, my initial thought, is that when we are engaging with young people, do we need to engage differently with boys than we do with girls. It is true that God deals with us all individually, and recognises all our different weaknesses and attributes, but, I am sure he also recognises all the general differences between boys and girls, and thus enables us as youthworkers to think how we may be able to approach these different genders.

New netowrking site for youthworkers

there is now a new secure space for youth workers to gather together, share ideas and read some written material. Nothing definitive as such, just a community where ideas ca be formed, thinking can be sharpened, and youtwork can hopefully move forward in an exciting challenging and supportive way. Visit: www.rolltherock.org.uk and click on youthworkers network. ensure you register to be able to share ideas, and thinking and support others, as well as being supported yourself.

training and events upcoming

Hi Just some up and coming training and events that people might be interested in. December 12th and 17th, there is 2 dyas of training for those working with young people, examining drug and substance abuse. it is free to go and is in the centre of Harrogate, but also is taking place else where as well. Visit: www.drugtrain.org.uk for more details. Superhero live in Harrogate 26th September sees superhero come to Harrogate as part of their uk tour. Performing at Ashville College, doors open 7 pm, tickets can be bought through Rolltheorck, or wesley owen in town. for email info please email: superhero@rolltherock.org.uk tickets £6 October 4th, RolltheRock holding their annual celebration at Life Destiny Church offices, hookstone park. for any more information, or to confirm that you will be coming, please email: celebration@rolltherock.org.uk This will be a time to launch our new 3 year vision, and also induct our new trainees upon our training course. If yo have any information or events coming up, please email us at: blogs@rolltherock.org.uk and we shall get it up here for you.

empower instead of criminalise

There is a new government scheme, working with young people as mistery shoppers, as they go to shops and try and buy knives. This is a great idea of working with young people, making them feel involved, giving them responsibility, and a bit of mystery with the under-cover part of it as well. This will, I hope give young people that sense of excitement, that sense of doing something, and mystery, without the bad, dangerous consequences that tey get from carrying knives. How else can we empower young people to make a difference in our communities.

new pages and articles for youth workers

There will soon be a new set of pages on the rolltherock website for youthowrkers. We will be putting up some articles, and a passworded section for actual youthworkers to go and discuss what has been written. We will be launching this new area, and new articles in the middle of september, so we shall be posting up here the launch date and more info aout how you as a youthworker can interact with others.

Shout it out for our teens

I have been challenged recently by another youthwork blog that I regularly look in upon, that has prevoked the thought as to whether we shout out for our teens enough in this country. Certainly there is an issue with drugs, knives, violence, and various other things, but youth doesn't mean yob, and there are stacks of reasons why our young people are worth shouting out about. Can I suggest you go and look at www.youthblog.org and look at the posting for July the 20th, ths made me sit up and almost cheer for our young people.

Info and apologies

Hi All, Just to say sorry that there have been no posts on this blog for the last week, I have been away in America, which I shall explain in a minute, but Please forgive me for not pointing this out earlier. As I have stated, I have been out in the states, Visiting the florida revival meetings. These have been an amzing time, for me, and a lot of thanks goes to one of our supporters who paid for me to go on the trip. Spent some amazing time with God, won't say all about it here, as I have created a nother blog about tthe trip, so do visit: www.floridajournal.blogspot.com and read about the trip. Also just to inform you about another website I have come across, www.livelight.org looks like there is lots there for people to investigate.S

Children and young people now

This is another website which is well worth lgging into. It is free, and you can also choose the different newsleters you receive depending on your expertese and vision for work. there is lots there to choose from, and their articles are very much up to date and infromative. visit: www.cypnow.co.uk

New website to take notice off

there is a new youthwork website that is worth taking note of. I know one of the guys who is driving this website, and he is a great guy. It also has an internaitonal perspective, as well as having alsorts of session material, provoking articles, and much much more, and hey guess what, it is free as well. Can't be bad, check it out: www.youthworkinternaitonal.com

Signs of growth!!!!!!

Somewhere else, on another blog that I contribute too, was asking this question recently abot how youthwokrers grow. We all want our young people to grow, and have ideas about how that should happen, but do we or does anyone else actually think and take care about how the youthworker grows. If we had to ask the queston, of any youthworkers, How have you grown in this last year? I wonder what the answer would be and how long they woul have to think about it. god wants us all to grow, continually grow, and become more and more like him, and more and more like the people he wants us to be. So the challenge for us as youthwokrers, is to maybe ensure that things are in place, for us to go through those tough times, and ensure that we are growing and becoming better people, better youth workers, and better in our relaitonship with God.