THE RELEVANCE OF YOUTH MISSION IN THE REFORMED CHURCH IN TRANSYLVANIAppt

There is much despondency and pessimism among people working in the church with adolescents who are already confirmed (confirmation is usually at the age of 16, according to the traditions of our church) and important questions like “how can the church understand the needs of today’s young people?” and “do ministers speak the language of young people fluently yet?” seem almost unanswerable for many churches.
Various studies of the last time admit that the relationship between church and youth is not obvious anymore.
Youth workers and ministers living in a postmodern society experience that there is great tension between the way people manage their lives and the way churches, as traditionally organized institutes, are functioning. And youth stand in the middle of this tension.
I think that families and youth have to work for the kingdom of God hand in hand as equal members of a community which is the body of Christ, and where the different generations have to meet, encourage and love each other.
But when I write about youth work I do it always from the premise that church is not doing mission, but is missional and that has also to be the motive of reaching young people.

1. THE RELEVANCE OF
MISSIONAL YOUTH MINISTRY
IN URBAN CONTEXT
IN THE REFORMED CHURCHES
OF KOLOZSVÁR

2. Content
-Descriptionof thecurrentsituation
-Presentationof thesurveyI havedone
-Interpretationof theproblem
-Definitionof missional youthministry
-Suggestions

3. 1.Whataretheproblemsofyouthministryinthe
TransylvanianReformedChurchdistrict?
2.Howcanweinterprettheproblemofyouth
ministryinourchurcheswiththehelpofthe
interviewsandthroughtheeyesofadolescence
theory?
3.Howcanwedefinemissionalyouthministryand
whattypeofmodelscanbedrawnfromthe
existingpractices?
4.Whatsuggestionsandrecommendationscanbe
drawn?

4. CHAPTER 1
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS OF YOUTH MINISTRY IN THE
TRANSYLVANIAN REFORMED CHURCH DISTRICT?
thebreakofgenerations
disabilitytointegrateyoungpeopleinthe
Christiancommunity
lackofinvolvementinleadership
confirmation(attheageof16)isnotalwaysa
personaldecision
transmissionoffaithfromonegenerationto
anotherinmanycasesismissing

5. Historyand statistics
-synodal-presbyterialsystem
-twobishoprics:
“KirályhágómellékReformedChurchDistrict”
“TransylvanianReformedChurchDistrict”
-headquartersatNagyvárad(Oradea)and
Kolozsvár(Cluj-Napoca)
-16%ofthechurchmembersliveinurbanarea
and84%inruralarea
-thereareregisteredaround650.000members
(childrenandgrownupstogether)

6. Officiallyregistered church-members
in the “Transylvanian Reformed Church District”
REASON:
-emigration
-disconnection
fromthechurch
PROBLEM:
-we have lost
100.000 members
in 20 years

7. Survey
Description:
-120youngpeoplewhoareconfirmedbutarenotattending
regularlythechurchservices–55%wastheresponserate
Participants:
-35%maleand65%femalebetweentheageof16and33

8. Surveyresults
youngpeople’sfamilycontext:
-mixed families(19%) , divorce(24%) , drop-off
mentality, lackof faith-nurturingresponsability
youngpeople’sdailylife:
-lackofinteractionandcommunicationwiththeparents,
mother-centeredculture
youngpeople’sworldview:
-faith,friends,culture,parentsscience,thespiritualityof
someleadersinfluencetheirworldview

10. Whatis thereasonyougo tothechurch?

13. Researchdone by Youth for Christ
in The Nederland’s
10reasonswhyyoungpeopledon’tneedthechurch
1.I'mnotreligious;
2.Ihavenoneedforit;
3.Myparentsalsodonottothechurch;
4.Itisboring;
5.Idon’thavetime;
6.Ihaveotherthingstodo;
7.Thechurchservicesaretooearly;
8.Goingtothechurchisderogating;
9.Mywayofbelievingdiffersfromwhatthechurchoffers;
10.Ihavebadexperienceswiththechurch;

14. Surveysummary
Congregational and cultural reasons of young
people’s church leaving
1.Churchisoverprotectiv
2.Churchignoresreal-worldproblems
3.Churchgoersareinmanycaseshypocrites
4.Churchistoojudgmental
5.Churchisunfriendlywiththedoubters
6.Churchistooexclusive

15. Ecclesiological reasons of young people’s church
leaving
1.Biggapbetweencatechesisandyouthwork
2.Youthministryis„practiced”separately
3.Thereisnobudgetdefinedforyouthwork
4.Leadersdon’treallytalkaboutwhattodowith
andforteenegers
5.Youthmissionisconsideredaprogramsome
peopleshould„do”.
6.Theconceptionofholisticyouthmissionin
manycasesismissing

16. Social and contextual reasons of young people’s
church leaving
1.Prayer,Biblereadingandfaithsharingisn’t
takingplaceinmostChristianfamilies
2.Youngpeopledon’treallyfindauthentic
Christiansandmentorsintheirfamily
3.Thetoday’scongregationalformofchurch
expressionisnotconsideredthewaytheywant
topursuetheirspiritualjourney

17. CHAPTER 2
HOW CAN WE INTERPRET THE PROBLEM OF YOUTH MINISTRY IN
OUR CHURCHES WITH THE HELP OF THE INTERVIEWS AND
THROUGH THE EYES OF ADOLESCENCE THEORY?
Thesuppositionconcerningouryouthworkfrom
Transylvaniaisthatyoungpeople,astheydothe
confirmation,willjointhechurchandtheywilltakeon
thenormsofthecommunity.
Therealityisthatmanyyoungpeopledon’twantto
haveanykindofconnectionwiththeinstitutionalized
church

18. Interpreting the problem with the help of
faith development theory
The stagesof faithinJames Fowler’sconception
Stage3: -Synthetic-conventionalfaith
The conceptof Godis surroundedbymystery!
Stage4: -Individuating-reflexivefaith
The dynamicGodinvites humans to become fellow workers
with him!
Stage5: -Paradoxical-consolidativefaith
Godis higlypersonal!

19. Interpreting the problem with the help of
adolescence theory
The period of puberty (adolescence): 12-18 year.
-adolescents can be integrated in the 4th stage of faith, called
the critic, individuative, reflective faith stage
-uncomfortable to conform to the beliefs of the group
-responsibilityfor their beliefs, actions and decisions
-don’t tolerate following the crowd
-appreciate forums which allow them to present divergent
opinions
-do not sit easily within a church structure that requires them
to be dependent.

20. Interpreting the problem with the help
of adolescence theory:
The period of post –puberty: 18-?
-G. Stanley Hall : “Adolescence”
-a new culturally accepted “holding period” is between
the carefree life of a child and the expectations of
adulthood.
-"storm and stress" -this developmental phase hasthree
key elements :
-conflictwith parents
-mooddisruptions
-risky behavior

21. Interpreting the problem with the help
of theinterviews
-the sermon does not capture their attention
-Churchis boring
-it is not important, relevant
-they don’t like the tradition of the Church

23. PROBLEMS
-thecircleof thefriendsis changing
-subjectivmeaning
-pragmatism
-experience-drivenculture
-theemergenceof thedigitalworld
-networks
-everybodywantstomakehisownchoice
-hierarchy
-youngpeoplehaveno possibitytoexperience,
participateand interact

24. CONCLUSIONS
-families of young people are not partnering enough with
the churches and vice-versa
-young people have a need for relationshipbutthey can’t
communicate with their parents anymore
-adolescentsexperience the Church just as the institution
of the crowd and not as the community of believers where
they can build intimate and deep relationships
-confirmationinmanycasesis thepoint of disconnection
from the Church

25. CHAPTER 3
HOW CAN WE DEFINE MISSIONAL YOUTH MINISTRY AND WHAT
MODELS CAN BE DRAWN FROM THE EXISTING PRACTICES?
-whatis thebackgroundof youthministry?
-whicharethepurposesand valuesof youthministry?
-whichconclusionscanwedraw?
-whichmodelcouldbe themost helpfulinourchurchcontext?

26. The backgroundof youthministry
•Youth ministry 1.0(themeverse: Matthew7:13-14)
-churchand culturewerestayingagainsteachother
-church-safeisland/ world–sinful place
•Youth ministry 2.0(themeverse: Matthew28:19-20a)
-creating community and interacting with young people
-discipleship
-program-drivenusingthemodern technicalinstruments
•Youth ministry 3.0(themeverse: Acts2:44-46a, John 17:18)
-contextusalization, mission
-notdrivenbutpresent

27. The purposesand valuesof missional youth
ministry(Pete Ward)
NUCLEUS
FRINGE
INSIDE

28. The purposesand valuesof missional youth
ministry(Graham Cray)
•Youthministryisrelational
•Youthministryisincarnational.
•Youthministryrecognizesthepriorityofworshipand
preachingtheGospel
•Youthministryisintegratedinthelifeofthewhole
congregation
•Youthministryrecognizestheimportanceofdiscipleship

29. CONCLUSIONS
Our church needs to recognize that faith begins
at home

30. Our church needs to be mission minded in the
context of youth ministry
GOD IS A
MISSIONARY
GOD!
YOUTH MINISTRY

31. Our church needs to help young people
experience God
facts(objectivetruth)-theengine
faith-thecoalcarthatprovidesfuelto
theengine
feelings-thecaboose,whichcanbe
helpful,butisn’tessentialtothe
operationofthetrain
faith-thefuel
experience-theengine
facts-thehelpfulcaboose
modern mindset postmodern mindset

32. Modelsof youthministry:
THE SEGREGATED MODEL

33. Modelsof youthministry:
THE MULTI-GENERATION MODEL

34. Modelsof youthministry:
THE LINKED MODEL

35. Modelsof youthministry:
THE NEW PLANT MODEL

36. Conclusions
The advantagesof „multigenerationalmodel”
-intergenerationalexperiences
-religiousconversation
-youngpeople’stalentsand theirpassionareappreciated
-faithtransmissiontoa newgeneration

37. CHAPTER 4:
SUGGESTIONS AND RECCOMENDATIONS
Focusingon communion
Workingtoward integrationof adolescents in the
community
Helpingyoung people experienceGod
Reshapingthe importance of confirmationand personal
relationships
Renewingthe vision on leadership
Understandingthe culture and functioningas missional
church

38. Summary
Thankyouforyourattention!