The last few days I have chosen to revisit Marko’s book Youth Ministry 3.0.  It is an easy read but provides great food to fill up on and a challenge to move forward.  If you have not read it yet, go buy it and sit in a coffee shop, it will be worthwhile.

The discussions that were quite lively have died down a little and there is less ‘euphoria’ over what was written, maybe because we have settled back into our contentment as we recognise that some of our YM 2.0 ways still work and therefore the cost of moving ahead into new ways is too great a burden to bear.

Here in the UK, the youth ministry scene is slightly dfifferent to the USA and it is my belief that we may be a little ahead of our friends from over the pond, however, the principles still stand.  The book continues to deliver for me, even missed my stop on the tube as I was so engrossed again, therefore a second read was essential.

So what reflections after a 2nd reading months later?  For me the challenge is the timing.  We are in transition between the YM 2.0 and YM 3.0 mindset and the culture we dwell in is also split.  Yes, youth culture is ahead of the game, this is not news, but the way the world around us deals with such things is also divided.  I believe youth culture adapts to this better than the adults do – but there are some young people who are themselves in the second era.  Look at the difference in rural and urban settings, the young people are worlds apart in terms of culture, even in the UK!  But that is the beauty of YM 3.0 – it covers both bases, it gives room to work and a freedom to try new things, fail sometimes, laugh and cry, as well as permission to break a mould that some of us may be trapped in.

The challenge of adapting to the changing mindset will require sacrifice and time – my dream is that there will be plenty of us who are prepared to pay the price and give it the time.  I, for one, am willing ‘to sit in the stairwell that leads to the youth culture underground‘ and play my part.  Am trusting that others will sit with me and that we can support one another through this wonderful time in the history of God’s world.