Letting the YouTube Generation Tell The Story (with power, grace and style)

Most of ways the church teach are considered boring and irrelevant to teens (I’ve worked with them for 32 years now), and most of the preachers in the mainline today – average age 58 - were taught to preach by a seminary professor who was taught to preach BEFORE television.

I taught in 79 cities last year – mostly among those “relatively staid Lutherans” I've been surrounded by most of my short life. When I show our FINK powerpoint education/worship stuff, cartoons and music, I find that half of the churches tell me they’re still fighting screen wars. (“There’ll be no screen in MY sanctuary!”) What can we do? How can we convince the leadership that a missionary must speak the language of the culture (today the language is visual, musical, cultural, relational and story-based)?

For starters, here’s a little creative interruption you can use as you teach the leadership of your church.

FIRST play Simon & Garfunkel’s Youtube version of “Richard Corey”)

Anyone over 45 may be old enough to remember Simon and Garfunkel, and the simple, gripping power of telling a story in a medium that young people could understand and absorb. After viewing the YouTube, ask them what they just saw, heard, and remember.

SECOND print this list on half-sheets, set it on tables, and invite small groups to wrestle with it for ten minutes. Then come back and write their ideas on a board:

TOP TEN TECH CONSIDERATIONS FOR OUR CHURCH'S MISSION FUTURE

1. 2005 was a watershed year in the history of human technology. It was the year when teens in America began spending more time online than on television.
2. Most of the preachers in mainline pulpits today were taught to preach by a preacher who was taught to preach before television
3. I spoke in 79 cities last year, and found that half of the churches I encountered are still fighting screen wars. (“No projection screen in MY sanctuary!”)
4. Our churches have yet to enter the television era yet, and our children have already left it.
5. The most powerful medium of our day may arguably be social networking
6. The second most powerful medium of our day may arguably be film
7. The third most powerful medium of our day may arguably be music
8. The fourth most powerful medium of our day may arguably be YouTube
9. The most powerful social network of all may not be the internet... But the church of Jesus when it is alive with love, action, passion and compassion.
10. Some combination of presenting Jesus through the media and medium of the day  – if BY the kids FOR the kids USING their stories and a $179 webcam - DONE BY THEM with excellence, power, grace and style – and then followed up with the love, action, passion and compassion of the people of God (the inviting servant church) could  literally reach to the ends of the earth today... As close to instantly as was ever possible in the history of this planet.

QUESTION

So, how do we let our kids tell the marvelous story of Jesus in a way that will reach their post-television generation with power, grace and style? 

Comments

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[Russ Moore]

Rich,

I made the above comment when I was frustrated. In some ways, I overstated my case.

Please forgive me.

I do admire your desire to keep people connected to Christ.

[Russ Moore]

Hi Rich,

I have been in an LCMS church for the past year where the pastor has whole-heartedly endorsed your Faith Ink methods.

I appreciate the energy and passion in which you approach the task of educating our children (and adults) and keeping them connected to Christ.

However, I also have 4 teenagers and I can tell you that the Faith Ink methodology is not connecting with them. As a matter of fact, they want to leave because they think church and confirmation have become simply silly. Maybe something is lost in translation at our church. I don't know. But am hearing the same from other parents.

I have another view about how to connect with teenagers. Give them something different. The technology and "relevant" communication is a constant. Maybe something old like liturgy, reverence, transcendence, a connection with something bigger than themselves, serious study of scripture, etc. will reach them.

Just thought you should hear an alternate view.

[Bruce Booher]

Rich, You make some great points, certainly give us much to think about. Maybe one thing to add - ask pastors how much time they spend each day on the computer. I am 59 - so you just told me I am older than the average preacher (thanks for making my day!) My computer crashed for a couple of days and I was lost. Every five minutes I thought of something I wanted to do, something I needed the computer for, then remembered I couldn't. BTW we don't have a screen in our sanctuary yet, but we do have an active Facebook page.

Bruce Booher,
First Lutheran Church, Plano, IL
www.mysteryandawe.com

[Bill Easum]

Rich, when christian adults shy away from technology it makes it almost impossible for the church to reach kids. I've seen very few mainline churches effectively reaching kids.
So to answer your question, the adults have to grow up and treat new technology like they use the light switch.

I love your list and can see many uses for it.

Bill Easum
President, 21st Century Strategies
www.21stcenturystrategiesinc.com
www.churchconsultations.com
www.BillEasum.com