"If it ain't broke,
don't fix it."
But if it is broke,
FIX IT!
IT'S BROKE!
Below is an explanation of New City's Core Values. These values shape what we do and how we do. Following each core value I'll explain how we have been less than successful with our attempted model of student ministry (integrated MCs).
don't fix it."
But if it is broke,
FIX IT!
IT'S BROKE!
Below is an explanation of New City's Core Values. These values shape what we do and how we do. Following each core value I'll explain how we have been less than successful with our attempted model of student ministry (integrated MCs).
WORSHIP:
We exist to be worshippers of God. Understanding that God is our
Creator and Gracious Redeemer gives us purpose and direction in life.
Therefore, our desire is to proclaim the beauty and majesty of God – to show
that he is worthy of our worship in all we do and with all we are.
> We all need to be reminded of the many ways that what/who we worship plays itself out in our day to day lives. If we love Jesus with all of our heart, mind, and soul (worship), then we will follow his commands. If we love (worship) anything else, we will pursue (follow) it/them. For example, if we love money more than Jesus, money becomes our pursuit - working too hard, stealing, illegal or dishonest gain...
This needs to be communicated in in a language and environment that makes hearing and receiving it most likely. Sunday morning sermons is likely not the best environment or language for reaching students.
COMMUNITY:
We are created to exist in community. As those created in the image
of God, we reflect the triune nature of God who exists in perfect community as
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This means that church is not intended to be a
loose collection of spiritually minded people, but a family of worshippers that
reflect the image of God, unified in Jesus. This community will be visible as
people love and serve each other and their neighbors. This is where the gospel
comes to life.
> While the ideal of mom and dad being in community with others AND with their children is great, the reality is that it is VERY difficult in our culture. Families are dysfunctional. By only offering MCs that include the entire family, we are insisting that families join us in the ideal, rather than meeting them where they are and helping them grow into the ideal. It is ignoring context and culture to insist on the ideal. By doing this, there are many families - parents and students - that we will never reach and never move into community - the best place for Scriptures "one anothers" and discipleship. The reality of our attempt to integrate MCs with the whole family is that most of the children who attend an MC with mom and dad play with other kids rather than participating in an MC, or if the children are old enough, they simply stay home alone.
The bottom line is that we are NOT connecting our students to community.
The bottom line is that we are NOT connecting our students to community.
MISSION:We live as those who are sent—Just as the Father sent the Son into
the world, so too the Son has sent his church into the world. Therefore, to
live as a disciple means that we live on mission with Jesus. This will be
expressed as disciples adopt the posture of a missionary – to learn, listen to
and love the culture locally and globally. In doing so, the church announces
the salvation accomplished by the Son through the proclamation of the gospel
while working and praying for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
> As I mentioned above, if we ignore our culture and context in an attempt to reach the ideal in one leap, there are many, many, many people that we will never be able to engage. For most people, becoming a follower of Christ and joining in His mission is a process, not a single "event." The process happens in community, not in isolation. If students (and parents) never engage in community, they are much less likely to engage in the process of transformation that begins with belief and moves to mission. We are neither reaching nor sending effectively in our current model of ministry.
THEOLOGY:
We cannot properly worship, serve or proclaim a God that we do not
know. Therefore, we strive to create a culture devoted to Scriptural study in
order to help us grow in our love for Jesus and people. We must view the world
and culture through the story of the Scriptures. We realize that we must become
practical theologians if we are serious about being missional disciples in
today’s culture.
> We all need more than the Sunday sermon in order to grow in our theology and especially in the practical application of our theology. Students live in a different world than adults! They often speak a little different language, deal with different problems, struggle with different sins, need to uproot different idols. Our current structures do very little to reach, shape, or apply the theology of our students. This means that rather than helping them grow as theologians through our MCs, we are in some ways hindering their growth as theologians. We want our students to know God (theology) because we believe that in knowing Him, they will love Him (worship) and in loving Him they will follow Him - right into community and right onto His mission!
