search for faith

I wanted to get a first hand look at ministry in a post-post Christian culture. A youth culture that was similar to ours and which looks like the direction that our own nation is heading toward, short of Divine revival. I had read and heard a lot about the stirrings of revival in the UK and had been spiritually-impacted often by the worship that was coming out of England. I was hungry to get a glimpse at what was producing such fresh worship.

I knew that the sources of such refreshing streams had to be great.

We spent 4 days in London, 1 Day in Bournemouth, and two days in Southampton.

We visited Kensington Temple in London; a brother/pastor formerly of BLISS in Bournemouth; and Sublime and Southampton Community Church

All these ministries were amazing in so many ways, I was surprised by a lot that I encountered there.

First of all I was shocked by the utter simplicity of what was being done. Sublime,the most surprising of all, was so stripped down. Just a room, 70 kids, a young worship band, a lot of passion, zeal, and loud playing, a short talk by a student and soaking in the Presence.

• No games

• No interactive, hands on learning stuff

• No food (gasp, gasp, choke! How can that be???)

• No flashy lights (just a sheet with two colored lights shining on it, and some smoke)

• No overpowering youth pastor “leading” everything, in fact, who was leading this thing?

• No titles (the most refreshing and humiliating aspect of it all, they are just people over there, no titles, front seats, special parking spaces, special greetings, or different voices tones)

• No slick methodology or strategy (students lead cells, students are in relationship with older workers, prayer, worship)

Absent was all the “stuff” I expected to see coming form “Big & Better World” of youth ministry here In the states.

I was crushed.

Because I expected to see “something” but instead I found: simple people, loving kids, empowering them to do the ministry and really just sitting in the back seat giving directions when needed! Which in the end really was the most revealing “secret” of it all. Actually equipping believers to do (drive) the works of ministry instead of just talking about it but always driving the car!

There they dared to have a ministry that was prone to all the challenges of letting others grow and learn to serve the Lord. The ego-centered need to be “in the light” was absent at least in such obvious ways as it is here. It took me the whole service Sunday morning to figure out who the “Pastor” in the church was!

I felt like the guards needing Judas to kiss Jesus so I could figure out who was the leader!

Such an absence of hierarchy was stimulating.

There were other clues to a where such living water was coming from in their ministries.

Radical and vibrant, exuberant, and edgy worship! They let this generation express their love for God and worship of Him in their own “voice” and style. It was loud, it was passionate, it was messy, it was raw, it was loud, it was danceable, it was loud, it was tender and sometimes angry, it was loud, it was wild! It was corporate, many people, not just a few entering in.

The most revealing “secret” I saw was the relationship between Dave (a youth pastor) and Andy (young leader). I was talking to Dave and he mentioned in passing three words that summed up his relationship with Andy: Disciple, Brother, Friend. Not necessarily in that order. It revealed to me the foundation upon which such works were growing: love. In fact when we came to Dave’s house, Andy opened the door and walked right in to the fridge! You know that is close, when a student feels at home to eat right out of your fridge without asking!J

Andy even had a key to Dave's house.

I was humbled by such trust, friendship and love.

Does anyone in your ministry have a key to your house?

Basically I was once again reminded of the simple strategy of Jesus: Love people, empower them, cover them in prayer, model the “way” with them not just in talks to them and live it out where they are at.

In a day when it seems that in order to have a “successful youth ministry” you have to be a cross between “Disneyland, Toys R US, and Superman. It was refreshing to see some brothers and sisters making an impact on a post-post Christian nation, in ways that I can do too.

Eric Blauer is Youth Pastor of Ground Zero, the Youth ministry of New Hope Christian Center, Spokane WA. He is married to LeeElla for almost 11 years and has four kids (Christian 8, Destiny 6, Austin 4, Micah 1). His ministry purpose is: To IMPACT a lost and searching generation with the gospel and love of Jesus Christ To IMPART a passion for Christ and to serve the purpose's of God for this generation To INVADE youth culture with love, creativity, zeal and boldness.