Do They Run When They See You Coming?: Reaching Out to Unchurched Teenagers - Softcover

McKee, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0310256607 ISBN 13: 9780310256601

Publisher: Zondervan, 2004

Synopsis

Reaching Out to Unchurched Teenagers Five facts about the unchurched: 1. They believe all religions have value. 2. They are spiritual, not religious. 3. They don’t know what Christianity really is. 4. They don’t know what they believe. 5. They are looking for something that works. If you want to make an impact on this generation, these are five basic rules you must understand. Author Jonathan McKee writes that by taking the time to learn students’ unique situations you show you care about them as people, not as mission projects. Informative and full of real-life examples, Do They Run When They See You Coming? provides vital information you need to better understand students outside your youth group. Yet this book isn’t a sociological or marketing survey; the tangible guidelines and methods inside help you get into the mind of unchurched students––so you can get to know their hearts. Because, as every youth worker knows, real ministry is always about getting to the heart.

About this title

About the Author

 Jonathan McKee, president of The Source for Youth Ministry, is the author of numerous books including Ministry By Teenagers, Connect, and the award winning book Do They Run When They See You Coming? Jonathan speaks and trains at conferences, churches and school assemblies, all while providing free resources for youth workers on his website, www.TheSource4YM.com.

From the Back Cover

Reaching Out to Unchurched Teenagers
Five facts about the unchurched:
1. They believe all religions have value.
2. They are spiritual, not religious.
3. They don't know what Christianity really is.
4. They don't know what they believe.
5. They are looking for something that works.
If you want to make an impact on this generation, these are five basic rules you must understand. Author Jonathan McKee writes that by taking the time to learn students' unique situations you show you care about them as people, not as mission projects.
Informative and full of real-life examples, Do They Run When They See You Coming? provides vital information you need to better understand students outside your youth group. Yet this book isn't a sociological or marketing survey; the tangible guidelines and methods inside help you get into the mind of unchurched students--so you can get to know their hearts. Because, as every youth worker knows, real ministry is always about getting to the heart.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Do They Run When They See You Coming? Reaching Out to Unchurched TeenagersYouth Ministry in One WordI'm thinking we're missing something here. I think we'remissing the big picture. I don't want ministry programming tips...just tell me what you think youth ministry is all about. As a matterof fact, just give me the one word you think youth ministry is allabout!Th anks,Bryan~Dear Bryan,LOVEJonathan~Dear Jonathan,Hey, thanks for getting back to me so soon.Okay, you took me seriously. Now forget all that stuffabout one word. Love isn't the answer I want. I mean---it's cooland all---it's probably even right. But I just need you to expandon it a little bit. How do we reach the kids outside our churchwalls? How do we reach unchurched students?BryanOne WordHow do you sum up students reaching other students in one word? Howdo you verbalize---in one word---youth leaders reaching out to youth?Let's go to the only place I know to go: the Word of God. Jesuswas asked basically the same question in Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke10. Th e conversation went something like this: 'Okay, Jesus---then what isthe most important thing? Don't give me the long answer, just what is thebottom line?'Jesus answered, 'Love God...love others.'Th at's what it comes down to. Love.Bringing God to PeopleOur church has a missionary in Laos named Jim Gustufson. Jim told usabout a church he visited in Th ailand. It was a church founded by Westernersfrom America, reaching Th ai people. Jim told us about a Sunday when hearrived at the church early. Other than himself, the fi rst person to arrivewas a woman who walked in dancing, singing in Th ai, and praising Godfor what he had done that week in her life. Two more people walked insinging together and praising God. Th is happened more and more untilthe audience was fi lled with people singing songs in Th ai and praising Godfor what he had done.Th en Jim told us about someone else who walked into the church.Th is person didn't dance or sing. With his head down, he walked in andstepped onto the stage---and the Lord left! Th e place went silent as theAmerican pastor took his place on stage, opened the American hymn bookas stoically as possible, and announced, 'Everyone turn to page 256 andlet's begin worship this morning.' Ironically, that call to worship endedany worship that was going on.Many of us use the terminology 'bring someone to Christ' or'lead someone to Christ.' However, Jim made an important point. In theBible, the Gospel of John says that when Jesus came to earth, 'the Wordbecame fl esh and dwelt among us.' Jesus left his seat next to God to bewith us---to come to us. Let's not forget about the greatest act of love inhistory---God brought Jesus to us! Th is American pastor simply broughtWestern rituals and religion to an Eastern culture. He didn't let the peoplemeet Jesus where they were. Instead he tried to bring them to Jesus via aWestern tradition they didn't understand.We don't need to bring people to Christ; we need to bring Christto them.A fast-food restaurant by my house just went out of business. Everytime I went in there, the people behind the counter were always rude andpreoccupied with their own business. Many times, as I was trying to ordermy combo number three with no pickles, the cashier would start arguingwith the fry guy. Often customers would be waiting for service while themanager was trying to resolve the most recent scheduling problems oremployee strife. Well, it wasn't long before they were out of business.I know why.Th ey forgot what they were there to do.Th ey forgot that a fast-food chain does not exist in order tohighlight the concerns of those who are working behind the counter. Th ewhole reason a fast-food chain exists is to provide food for the people outthere---on the other side of the counter.Sadly, that can be true of us today. As believers we get so caughtup with what's going on inside the church walls while we're shepherdingour own people that we forget about the people out there. We forget one ofthe main reasons we still exist on this planet is to 'go and make disciplesof all nations.'So how do we reach those who aren't coming into the walls of thechurch? How do we bring Christ to them? It starts with compassion.Youth Ministry in One Word

Edition details

• Publisher: Zondervan
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0310256607
• ISBN 13: 9780310256601
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160