*I know it seems strange to bring up thinking that might run
contrary to what is seen as the prime directive...
Leading boys to Christ..
*So I need you to cover me with prayer as I unlimber my
mind just a bit..
What happens at the age of 14 to cause our ministry to
falter? I can only deduce as a RR leader, that we do our
best before the age of 14 and then fade back, and hand
off to the Youth ministry. What happens in boys at 14?
*Can a Youth ministry match the mission statement
of RR by *reaching,*teaching and *keeping youth for Christ?
I say yes, Praise God,..it can.
-------------------------------
But still.. what happens to boys at 14?
*I say, at 14 or so.. a child gains a mind of his own.
If this is true, our greatest success is limited by the
actions that appeal to a immature mind. The popular understanding
of leadership seems to work with this mindset that does not
question the quality or motive of why things are the way they are.
Our great failure has been to hold on to the boys in the older groups.
Boys under 14 may be a handfull, but are not so much that Men
can't rule the roost<G>. This is a productive time to harvest
young souls, and we should continue as we do, on this path.
However... why do we lose the boys at 14?
A natural transition from childhood to young adulthood seems
to go hand in hand with High School gradutation and the age 18..
What do we fail at between these years?
I work with many boys that are in these years now, as my son is 16
and a junior in High School. I'm learning from others that these
years are ones of experimentation with ideas, powers and dreams.
These years are harder on parents for they can sneek up on you
and surprise you into reacting first from emotional challenges
rather than responding with wisdom.<G> If our first tendency
is to desire to control rather than *guide.. we have the make'ns
for the classic generational gap, rebellion and discord.
*I suggest that your 14 year old Ranger has "heard it all" and
honestly don't need another sermon from Commander<G>
I also suspect that this 14 yearold is closer to understanding
"what ticks" with boys they we are in "advanced years<G>" But
we can boost success by remaining in faith with the spirit of
leadership, by handing over the reigns to them.
The axe I'm grinding again is *Boy Leadership... and the cause
is meeting the emotional/spiritual needs of boys and *partnering
with them to become the man.. God wants them to become.
As a boys mind ages, questions form about reasons for beliefs
and ethics. Our honesty in mentoring them in the truth as well
as standing by as encouragement coaches to their discovery's..
We need to respect the young mind, and show intrest in not raceing
to the likely end result, but allow them to lead us in discovery
of where "they are<G>"
More to come..
'nuff for now<G>
-=*=-
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> I read with great interest this article in the summer addition of High
> Adventure. The article is titled, "The Probability of Accepting Christ
> is
> Highest among kids under 14.
> If you haven't read it you can be going to <A
>
HREF="http://www.barna.org/cgi-bin/PagePressRelease.asp?PressReleaseID=37&Reference=E&Key=children";>Barna
> Research Online</A> . Seems to
> me if this research is true most churches should reconsider their
> priorities.
>
> Taking The High Ground for Jesus
> James Styles, " Smoke Signal"
> Sr Commander
> Outpost 45 Huntsville, Al
>
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