Recently I read a report on the Leaders' for Christ Convention organised by Saccreyouth of which I was privileged to also be a part of. It was very encouraging and I would like to share some personal thots on it.
I think we should do this convention more often. I think it really helps youth leaders in a very practical and encouraging way. I've been personally following up with a couple of the youth leaders who came for the sessions. Listening and talking thru some challenges they are facing. It has been good.
Really, any ministry can pull off a Big Event (Rally), with enough money, talent, prayer, trust in God and organizational ability. easily do-able, Heck, even Ad hoc committees can pull them off and have been doing so for as long as I know. (see last years' 070707)
But...how to build a youth ministry that last. How to affect incremental, consistent and lasting change in young people one-life-at-a-time? that takes wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established
through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;
for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers."
Proverbs 24:3-6
If I were to try to point out what I think is the greatest quality the groups in Saccreyouth, individually and collectively have, it will be this:
Resilience.
The ability to last the distance and still continue to bear fruit. Even if it's in ebb and flows, there is a strong sense of mission and purpose. This produces resilience. With that - experience, wisdom and knowledge that comes from simply the refusal to give up, learn from mistakes and grow on!
In conferences like LFC, we get to share our real life experiences, lessons from mistakes and offer real help if not encouragement to youth leaders in parishes who are really struggling. This is something very few youth organizations can do.
You read the feed backcomments from the leader-participants, of the last LFC, you know - they are hungry for guidance! They don't need just another big ra ra event to give a temporary jolt - they need some people to come around them and advise them what they can do next week! How to handle that difficult youth. How to deal with the discouragement of low attendance. And how to conduct a core team meeting! Set goals for the year? How to start an intercessory team?
Give a boy a fish, feed him for a day, teach them to fish, feed him for a lifetime.
Conferences like LFC is an efficient and effective way to impact youth ministries at a grassroot level. But we must do it often enough to see visible results. So it gives youth ministries in Singapore something unique and useful to look forward to on a consistent basis. This may give Saccreyouth, the unique positioning in the Archdiocese that no other organizations can.
Any youth ministry can pull off big events. And we have lots of it through the year.
But it takes lasting ministries to raise lasting ministries.
Leo
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