Despite the short notice, we had a great time last night debriefing about the Online Missions Trip! Thanks to everyone who participated! We shared some cool stories, discussed how it worked in our youth groups, vented some frustrations, and gave suggestions for how to improve it.
Mark Matlock recommended that we continue to build momentum by doing the Online Missions Trip every month or two, both individually and with our youth groups.
Questions I have about that:
- Would doing the Online Missions Trip every month or two remove some of the significance of such an event?
- Would doing it annually fit better into your youth ministry schedules?
- Should we leave the scheduling and dates up to individual groups?
- Would you and your youth group commit to the Online Missions Trip on an on-going basis?
If the Online Missions Trip experience moves from an annual basis to something more frequent, I would definitely appreciate some help with promotion, answering questions, collecting data, keeping the site updated with new resources and ideas, and finding ways to help kids take this seriously for an ongoing basis.
I’d love to hear your input in the comments below.
5 Comments
at 11:07 am - 25th February 2009 Permalink
I guess I think it would take away from the significance. We REALLY spent a lot of time on this with our group — 6 weeks total — the first time through, so I think we need a good break before starting it up again to have any momentum, at least for our group. I’m considering the idea of doing it again during the summer months. In the long run, I think annually is a better option for us. Of course, it won’t be our only outreach, it will provide another avenue/opportunity for our students along with other outreaches/events.
I’d be on board for doing this annually. Sign us up!
at 12:36 pm - 25th February 2009 Permalink
I guess I think to create a culture of outreach in youth ministry it would be great to keep this going. Only as a part of keeping that culture not as the only means of it happening.
If we did it once a quarter for a couple days and then once a year for a month or something I think it would keep the awareness up. Then the once a year time could be when we do evangelism training/discipleship series in our weekly meetings.
Just a thought!
at 12:45 pm - 25th February 2009 Permalink
I too think this could be something that is similar to like HABITS from Simply Youth Ministry. A training tool or resource to encourage students in being active in sharing their faith with friends. Social media is a resource that we need to learn how to effectively use…not the only way but a way to reach friends.
You could also still have a couple of times a year where you heavily promote it and focus but also use it as a springboard for ongoing ministry.
at 1:07 pm - 25th February 2009 Permalink
Great idea, Scott, of integrating online outreach into the foundation of what we do as a student ministry. I’m gonna process that some more (about how that would look in our ministry)… thanks for the comment.
at 11:00 am - 19th May 2010 Permalink
I too think this could be something that is similar to like HABITS from Simply Youth Ministry. A training tool or resource to encourage students in being active in sharing their faith with friends. Social media is a resource that we need to learn how to effectively use…not the only way but a way to reach friends.
You could also still have a couple of times a year where you heavily promote it and focus but also use it as a springboard for ongoing ministry.
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