live blogging from the KBYMA

Our state's Baptist Youth Ministry Association is meeting during the annual convention. Right now about 25 youth pastors are sitting around discussing what can we do about the trend for older high school students and college students to drop out of church. What needs to change? How can we operate within the structures that values keeping things the same? Why do our churches sometimes value only "good kids"? How can we keep teens connected through these transitions (driver's license, college, etc.)? How does a youth pastor's longevity factor into this? Is it simply that we're not offering anything good enough to compete with all the options that are now available to them? Is our message deficient... leaving out what's necessary to create deeper commitment? How do we measure things... what are some ways to tell "when it sticks"? Good questions that demand thoughtful and creative solutions.

Our jump off point were some quotes taken from the recent Catalyst conference...
“To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing.”
“Become preoccupied with those you haven’t reached as opposed to those you are trying to keep.”
“The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation.”
“Be a student, not a critic.”
“If we got kicked out and the board brought in a new CEO, what would he do? Why shouldn’t we walk out the door, come back in, and do it ourselves?”
“We fall in love with the way we do ministry so we keep it around.”
“What do I believe is impossible to do in my field… but if it could be done would fundamentally change my business?”
“Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules. Rule breakers are often problem-solvers.”
“When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near.”
“Don’t let success overshadow your vision.”