Comments for Cultivation Ministries

Comment on Our Greatest Challenge? by admin

admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:40:48 +0000

You are right on about mission, Jeremy. I don’t think Millennials are willing to sit in the pews– Sitting for them is anything, but luxury! An authentic church calls us to an authentic mission– investing ourselves in behalf of others.

Comment on Our Greatest Challenge? by Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 19 May 2011 16:54:23 +0000

We as a church need to understand our Gospel requirements to go out into the world. And until everyone understands that we are all called to be a mission church, nothing will ever change. We no longer have the luxury of just sitting back in the pews and doing nothing. With the layoff in the church and decrease in funding, we was the community need to fulfill our gospel obligation.

We need to preach and train the laity to be missionaries into their own backyard. There are too many family members who do not see the value in being active members of their community.

I feel that we have to understand our role as a mission church. It is important to continue to offer the Sacraments and those should not change. But we need to think about what it means to be mission, who’s responsibility is it. If we don’t do it, someone else will.

Comment on The Elephant by admin

admin — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:05:49 +0000

Thanks for your comments and the reminder on the Holy Spirit, Matt!

Comment on The Elephant by Matthew Toohill

Matthew Toohill — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:42:54 +0000

This is exactly what I’ve been feeling, and feel every year after the Confirmation retreat. In a couple of more weeks our 8th graders will be confirmed, and maybe 1 or 2 out of 60 will hang around for Youth Ministry at least for their freshman year. I can see the exact same problems from my own efforts, those of my leaders, but also wonder where to find the time, and leaders to do better. One thing this blog left out was that its the Holy Spirit who will change hearts, all I can do is tell them about how the Spirit changed my heart. Like it says in GTD, seed grows itself.

Comment on Church As Rufuge by admin

admin — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 22:24:47 +0000

Shawn– I will pray for you and hopefully I’ll see you in Harrisburg this May! Thanks so much for your thoughts on the post.

Comment on Church As Rufuge by Shawn

Shawn — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:38:22 +0000

Frank,

This makes so much sense. I just saw a 10th grader’s post on Facebook which said she got 6 college letters and one valentine. I am in my first year of building a program from scratch at my church in the Harrisburg Diocese, and you’re right, these teens have so much stuff going on that its so hard to get them to come out for just one more thing to stick on their schedules. I would love to be able to provide that place of rest for them, and my first goal is give them the experience of prayer as rest, and to build the discipline of daily prayer. Pray for me, this is the hardest thing I have ever done!

-Shawn

Comment on Church As Rufuge by admin

admin — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:05:45 +0000

Thanks, for adding your thoughts, Mary. After 25 years of youth ministry and three teens of your own– I’m listening! It really makes you think when this becomes the profile of junior high teens.

Comment on Church As Rufuge by Mary Haley

Mary Haley — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 14:47:42 +0000

I have done junior high youth ministry for 25 years and have 3 teens. You are absolutely right about this generation. Even at the junior high level the big fun events have dwindled to nothing, but when I run a relaxing movie night where they can just hang out and eat popcorn they turn out. That used to be the high school paradigm, junior high had to be entertained, now they too are exhausted and just looking for a safe landing spot.

Comment on Evangelization Doesn’t Work Anymore by Redefining Evangelization

Redefining Evangelization — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:32:38 +0000

[...] blog post here entitled Evangelization Doesn’t Work Anymore, I highly recommend reading the whole post (it’s [...]

Comment on New Youth Ministers by Redefining Evangelization

Redefining Evangelization — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:32:14 +0000

[...] by Frank Mercadante. Frank is the director of Cultivation Ministries which equips teen leaders and youth ministers to serve the needs of our young church. I’ve posted just part of his recent blog post here [...]