In a recent conversation I had with our Student Ministries pastor, we were talking about what really affects the lives of students.
There's no doubt that in our media, tech, socially connected world the church could easily be left behind by all of the "toys" that are readily available to the general student population.
However, the one thing that the secular world can not manufacture is the "authentic community" that exists in a place where followers of Christ are seeking to live out their emerging life in Jesus.
The more we talked, the more I realized that what I had experienced 35 years ago with a small group of leaders over near Allison Park was the exact same thing that would affect students today: that is the power of incarnational leadership. Those students used to watch how we lived our lives when we were together, sharing our belongings, praying together, going to different events because we wanted to, not because we had to and sacrificing whatever it took to accomplish our mutually agreed upon mission.
These things are still attractive today, still worth giving up one's individual pursuits to attain and still the most powerful life changing way to do effective ministry.
Jesus knew that giving himself to the 12 disciples would create an example that the whole world would watch. That same simple model is just as effective today as it was 2000 years ago, but we've gotten away from it through programming and substituting technology and toys for genuine, caring relationships.
My call is to return to incarnational ministry. It's effective not simply with students but with people of all ages who yearn to know and be known, to celebrate and be celebrated, to love and be loved.
Blessings,
Dr. Jay
As with the Incarnate One living in us becomes our reality, it seems likely that it will infiltrate all of us and our incarnational ministry that you write of.. permeable flow of relationship.
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