case for post-christian youth ministry, The

Group, Sep/Oct 2000 by Lawrence, Rick

"When I started doing this in 1983, I felt completely, totally alone," he said. "Under modernity, we created huge systems to reach young people. But these total solutions have collapsed. So youth workers now combine many disparate [cultural] elements to reach kids." Essentially these strategies borrow from underground youth culture, popular youth culture, and the liturgical traditions of the church. Combined together, kids are drawn into God experiences that are framed by familiar cultural surroundings.

For example, Jonny helped create a high/low-tech labyrinth experience7 that ran for one week at one of the world's largest Christian cathedrals-St. Paul's in the heart of London.

The labyrinth is an ancient practice that had all but disappeared from the church. It's a guided prayer walk designed to slow down the mind while igniting the spirit. It looks like a huge maze, but is actually a circular path that winds its way to a center, and then winds its way back out.

At St. Paul's there were 10 interactive "stations" that challenged participants to get in touch with what was going on in their souls, then drew them into intimate encounters with God. Some of the stations were simple-gazing into a mirror as you wrestled with questions of self-image. And some were more elaborate-sitting in front of a laptop using your mouse to "light" cybercandles on the screen as you pray for loved ones.

I saw teenagers, children, elderly people, moms, nuns, tourists, and businessmen off the street all slip on headphones and a portable CD player for the guided, 60-minute labyrinth journey. It was the perfect incarnational outreach event-subtle and intriguing enough to entice non-Christians into an encounter with God, meaty enough to serve as a spiritual retreat for Christians. It's the best example I've ever seen of a deepening spiritual experience offered in the bustle of the marketplace.8

Jonny has since repeated the labyrinth experience in an all-teenager setting with great success. "Basically," he says, "we're trying to rework liturgy to engage the culture."

Other UK youth ministers have taken a whack at reaching kids where they live by establishing community-based clubs that serve as after-school and evening gathering spots. Clubs such as the OK Club in central London, run by youth leader Rosie Solly, offer kids a forum to explore activities and issues that "scratch their itch"-body image, gender issues, drama, counseling support, discipleship studies, games, music-and a safe space to build relationships.

Meanwhile street youth workers such as Oxford's Nick Allen are planting "basement" congregations that attract fringe kids who'd never attend a traditional church. Pete Ward, who helped establish the JOY Church in Oxford, says, 'A group of adults, some youth workers, students, and young people got together and just created a whole new thing. Every week people roll in at about 6 p.m., eat together, hang out, drink tea, then join in a techno-music-driven worship service."

The church's environment is relaxed, friendly, artistic, experimental, and healing. Small-group discussions and Q & A sessions replace sermons. Fellowship is the real focus.