BY MAX TORRES

In the society we live in today, we always seem to be human doings instead of human beings. So what’s the answer to this dilemma, you might ask? Get another gadget! YOU NEED A COMPUTER! Think of what you could do:

- Type your sermon notes
- Create flyers
- Maintain an address database

Ask around for someone’s old 386pc with a basic word processing program to get you started. Remember, no need to be afraid of them, they’re only machines, and you have the ultimate power to reach out and turn it off when it aggravates you with those weird error messages. For those who have their WWWings, check out these free e-mail programs:

- Hotmail
- Lycos Email
- Rocketmail
- Juno

JUNO is advertiser-supported and doesn’t cost you a single centavo to get a bona fide e-mail address. For the youth sleuth on the go, Look into the PIM (Pocket Information Managers) by Casio, NEC, Sharp, HP, Psion, and others. These little pocket rockets have built in modems, fax software, and internet access. Before I go, check out

Gospelcom.net

Giga Bendiciones!
Pastor Gadget Max Torres

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BY LARRY ACOSTA

THE HISPANIC MINISTRY CENTER HOSTS THE NATIONAL HISPANIC YOUTH WORKERS SUMMIT
Leadership seems to be the buzz word of the 90′s. Ministries and organizations seem to rise and fall based on leadership. We at the Hispanic Ministry Center believe that one of the most significant investments that we can make is in the lives of emerging and existing leaders. To be specific, our focus is on Hispanic leaders due to the fact that they represent the fastest growing segment of our society.

In an attempt to influence the regional influencers of our country, HMC hosted a National Hispanic Youth Worker’s Summit which brought together 36 key Hispanic Youth Leaders from each region of the country. These leaders were from various denominations and organizations and came together to share their strengths for the purpose of creating Hispanic youth ministry resources.

It was exciting to watch these leaders interact in their areas of expertise through our focus groups and to actually emerge by the end of the summit with outlines, and deadlines for the forthcoming resources. These resources will serve as equipping tools by Latinos for Latinos who desire to provide more effective youth ministry resources. As you know, many youth ministry resources exist in English, but often the ideas and concepts are not culturally transferable or sensitive to the needs of urban Hispanic youth. Our goal is to utilize Latinos to develop relevant curriculum, mentoring manuals, discipleship handbooks and a host of Hispanic youth ministry “how-to” books.

Stay tuned as we together advance Hispanic youth ministry.

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BY RUBEN ORTIZ

Hispanic Youth Ministry
Getting a bunch of Hispanic youth workers together (outside of a wedding or funeral) is almost an impossible task. But when we finally managed to get it done here in the city of brotherly love, some great things happened.

The Hispanic Youth Ministry Challenge was held on October 11, 1997 in conjunction with Youth Specialties and run by E.A.P.E./Kingdomworks. It drew 65 youth workers who presently work with Hispanic kids. It was momentous because for some of the youth workers present, it was their first experience attending a conference. It was uplifting, challenging and practical. These workshops were also fulfilling for veteran Hispanic youth workers (most of them bi-vocational as well) in that they received training by experienced presenters who understand urban Hispanic youth ministry issues, and shared new outreach strategies.

The first workshop, titled, “Surviving as a Hispanic Youth Worker,” centered on specific issues related to the Hispanic youth worker’s language, culture, and traditions. It dealt with specific problems that the average Hispanic youth worker experiences throughout their time in ministry. It was obvious that it resonated with the audience since they expressed personal experiences and discussed their struggles in the small groups following the presentation.

This was followed by a practical workshop on relational youth ministry. The majority of those present stated that youth ministry in their churches was limited to youth-led church services.

Lunch-time was the element that linked the people, ideas and ministries to one another. The Puerto Rican style rice, beans, and traditional “tostónes” served as great networking catalysts. With Spanish worship songs played “salsa” style in the background, conversations buzzed with eager anticipation for the next training event. We promised that there would be more to come.

The Philadelphia Project
The Philadelphia Project for Youth Ministry (PPYM) is a 3-1/2 year initiative to lay the foundation for a city-wide youth ministry movement through local churches in Philadelphia. Our holistic and integrated approach allows for training, mentoring, relationship building, and financial support.

With a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts, PPYM addresses the major obstacles that impede effective youth ministry. We provide a two year cycle of the Urban Youth Ministry Institute. The core curriculum includes: Youth Ministry 101, Understanding Urban Youth Culture, Developing Excellent Youth Ministry Events, Effective Outreach, and others.

In our Student Leadership Program, three to five high school aged young people who have a vital relationship with Jesus Christ are selected. In this one year cycle of servant leadership training, we include retreats, practical seminars, worship celebrations and service learning projects. They learn to grow spiritually by serving their families, schools, churches and communities.

Through our Church Matching Grants program we help churches make youth ministry a priority. We assist each church in putting together a three year youth ministry strategic plan. Included in each plan is an Analysis, Mission, Vision Statements, Goals, Objectives, and Action Steps. Based on their plan, we match dollar for dollar (from two to twelve thousand dollars) that which the church allocates for youth ministry for up to two years.

Each PPYM Project Associate mentors and assists the youth worker in order to develop better youth ministries. One way that we accomplish this is by equipping them with relevant urban youth ministry resources.

Early next year (Winter 1998), the Urban Youth Ministry Resource Center will identify and collect the best available resources and make them available to any youth worker whether or not they’re a PPYM participant. Presently there are books, magazines, videos, music, tapes, as well as technical assistance available. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information regarding PPYM or E.A.P.E./Kingdomworks’ ministry with churches.

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BY MARVIN JACOBO

I remember the day I arrived home emotionally empty and mentally weary of ministry. With jolting words only a loving wife could say, she confronted me.

“Look at you! Where is the man I married 15 years ago, who had a sparkle in his eye and a love for people? You can’t go on like this! Things have got to change or you’ll never finish! You’ll end up on the pile of burned out youth pastors like so many others before you! You just can’t go on like this!”

To drive the situation home just a bit more, the next day I heard a prominent church growth expert share his life experience. Many of his years were spent doing the work of God in such a way that it destroyed the work of God inside him. As he spoke, tears flooded my eyes as the Holy Spirit gently said to me, “Son…I’m talking to you. You have been spending too many years doing My work in such a way that it is destroying My work inside of you. I have never wanted this for you or the rest of My servants. I love you. I have always wanted you to do My work in such a way that it would build My work in you. Remember when I said that ‘my yoke is easy and my burden is light?’ I want to show you how to do My work so that it builds My work inside you, not at your expense.”

I LOVE TEENAGERS
I was saved at 17, and six months later I sensed God calling me into youth ministry. Why did I want to serve God in full time ministry? Because I wanted to spend my life teaching His Word, spending time in prayer with my heavenly Father and building disciple-makers to reach their generation for Jesus!

Over the years something changed. I don’t know when and I don’t know why. I allowed the distractions, heartaches and pressures to steal my joy of serving my Lord and His people. The lack of God’s peace plagued me. My mind constantly drifted to the same haunting questions. “Is this all there is to working with students? How many kids can I get out to a program? What new program idea can I come up with? Is life-change happening in my students and their families? Is my program-based youth ministry evangelizing this generation or am I merely perpetuating religious heritage? Could the way I was doing ministry be destroying God’s work in me, my marriage and the very people I was trying to serve?”

I just couldn’t get all this out of my mind! From all outward indications, our ministry was impactful and it appeared healthy! But here’s the truth…the Lord was not pleased with us. He wanted something better for us, but I had no idea what to ask for or how to change.

AGONIZING BEFORE THE LORD
I got in my car, alone with Him, and drove around to beg Him for an answer to the holy discontent that was pressing against me. He brought to mind the walk of Moses, David, Jesus and Paul. They all had training times in the desert, or what I call God’s School of Character Building. As I headed out of town, I cried, “God, open my eyes to see what You see and what You want us to do! Work in us like You did in the Book of Acts when You added to their number daily those who were being saved!”

The Lord knows me too well-He answered in a way I didn’t expect, but needed to hear. Alone with Him, I heard him say “Marvin, I love you and I want to answer your cries, but you must wait. You are too full of yourself. If I blessed you like I wanted, you couldn’t handle it. You’d take too much credit and get proud. You’d think this ‘new thing’ was your idea. First I need to break you and then I will rebuild you and answer your longings. Don’t despair. Do your homework. Ask the questions.”

Ask the questions? What did he mean? I guessed right off the bat He didn’t want me to stagnate or brood over this situation. I was reminded of what was said of the men of Issachar, “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). I devoured every book I sensed the Lord was leading me to read. I found books on students, their generation, families, leadership, biographies, motivation, revival and restructuring corporations. I had to understand the times so I could proceed!

Through this investigation, I made some interesting observations. Throughout history, the Church of Jesus Christ has responded slowly to social and generational needs. We are always lagging 10-15 years behind the generation, reacting late to its peculiar characteristics. Our ministry needed to answer the questions and concerns of this generation and not of generations past. Could we create a ministry that could quickly and effectively respond to the generation instead of reacting to its rapid changes years later?

Another generational dynamic I discovered was that many youth ministries are no longer seeing numbers of students come to large youth group activities just because it is the “place to be” or because the “cool people” are there. This generation wants to be intimately known by another human being. They want someone to know their name and what is going on inside of them.

Large assembly style ministries can’t meet this need. In previous years, kids would come to a “mob scene” because it was the place to be. That is not as prevalent today as 20 years ago. Back then, kids could be categorized into a few broad subcultures. This is no longer true. In Modesto alone, we have identified over 100 different student clusters on the public school campuses.

The light went on in my head. No wonder when I arranged for a band to play at a church concert, half the kids hated them or walked out early! I couldn’t find a music group that would please everyone. We were a “one-size fits all” youth ministry, and our guest retention rate proved it. There were specific types of kids that stayed connected to our ministry, but the large diversity in the generation resulted in a great loss. Sadly, we found we were asking kids to “fit” into our program mold, to look and act like us, and then they could be a part of our ministry.

The way we were doing ministry connected with a small subculture of the overall generation. This generation has an inherent distrust of any organized institution. The studies show today’s kids don’t have a problem with Jesus, but with the church itself. They are open to the saving message of the Gospel but the organized traditional church is preventing them from seeing the message clearly. This told me that keeping our programs alive was more important than the objective of reaching this generation. I was more concerned about keeping students busy on good church projects than making disciple-makers.

We had to change. Today’s generation wants to contribute to the agenda and not merely be pawns or spectators. Was I empowering students by plugging them into the workings of our ministry? Was my ministry mechanism fully utilizing and training up students? NO!

The questions and research didn’t fill my emptiness. Then the verse came to my mind, “For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Applying this to my studies, I looked for any pattern in history that God used to bring revival to a spiritually starved land. The common denominator God had used to stir revival in His people was a small group of young men and women committed to God and each other, meeting regularly together and united in prayer for the revival of the given nation.

My heart raced with excitement. “Lord, I see it! Is this your answer to my restlessness and questioning?”

The Lord’s gentle response to me was, “Marvin, you’re now ready to return to the basics. I want to use you, in this generation, to help bring revival in my church-a youth ministry of small groups is not a church growth gimmick or fad.

It is the clear command of God. If you are weary of a “successful” ministry, there is hope!

Marvin Jacobo is Associate Pastor of High School Ministries at First Baptist Church Modesto, California. He ministers to 250 high schoolers weekly in 32 youth-led cells. Marvin has a special love for high schoolers and a rapport with them built on trust and understanding.

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BETTY ALVAREZ HAM
Betty Alavarez is a dynamic Latina who is the president of City Impact, an outreach to at-risk youth and families in Oxnard, California. She is boldly leaving her mark on the next generation through Las Angelitas, a mentoring program she was instrumental in starting. Las Angelitas is a program of City Impact that uses a holistic approach in helping teens develop leadership skills for resisting social pressure to make unhealthy life choices. Purpose: Las Angelitas is a Latina mentoring program designed to help young girls to experience and work through healthy and responsible rites of passage in order to become a quality woman. The group addresses the emotional and social needs of young latinas and deals with issues such as education, self concept and esteem, personal hygiene, work habits, and knowledge of Mexican-American culture. The mentoring curriculum involves young girls, ages 12 to 16, in positive interaction with Latina females in preparation for adolescence and adulthood. Goal: The goal of Las Angelitas is to direct young Latinas toward education, school involvement and development and growth in their own culture. Consequently, this should minimize gang activity, substance abuse, crime involvement and other penalized activities, which lead them to dropout of school. The basic method by which this goal is met is to provide Latina women and teen participants with time to build personal relationships and thus model Latina womanhood to them.

PHIL MARQUEZ
Recently God opened a big door at a continuation school in our school dis- trict. The principal of the school called us, being familiar with Youth for Christ, and asked if we could start a club on campus as an outreach for their at-risk students. This was an opportunity we couldn’t refuse! The school is about a year old and sits on the grounds of a church. At this time, three portable classrooms serve our 100 students. The fellowship hall of the church is used as a lunchroom, kitchen, and also as a recreation room. The students range from the ages of 17-22. Of the 100 students, 35 are girls. 90% of the girls are either pregnant or already have children. Some of the male students are the fathers. 98 of the kids are Latinos with one Asian and one Caucasian. Most of the kids are un-churched and some seem to have gang affiliations. These are kids who are drop-outs and who have now dropped back in, hoping to get their GED’s for employment purposes. There is a sense of hopelessness that exists in these kids. It is into this hopelessness that we strive to speak love and truth as we meet the educational, social, and spiritual needs of these students. We have permission to bring in guest speakers, show movies, and to provide activities that will motivate young people to dream bigger than the barrio as well as to consider the claims of Christ. We have a team of people who willingly serve as role models and address issues like fatherhood/motherhood and teach skills like filling out a job application and interviewing. This is a new approach methodologically for us, but one in which we see God working. We believe that we have much to offer as we help to transition these young people from darkness to light and from destruction to construction. God is on a search and restore mission, and we are privileged to join Him in that process! Phil Marquez is the Executive Director of Youth For Christ Fresno, CA

MAX TORRES
Max Torres is a champion youth worker from El Tabernaculo Assembly in Houston Texas. He is one of the Grandfathers of Hispanic youth ministry because he has been faithfully discipling Hispanic students for nearly 20 years. This feat is to be highly commended because all too often our best youth workers move to senior pastorates in order to be validated and compensated. Max and his wife of 20 years, Dahlia, see Hispanic youth ministry as a high call and a high privilige. They believe that there is no higher calling than to be disciple-makers in youth ministry in order to “work ourselves out of a job.” Truthfully, Max and Dahlia have been instrumental in equipping and sending several Hispanic youth workers to other churches who have grown up and developed through their youth ministry. Max says, “I didn’t have someone in my face to challenge me to say no to at-risk behavior. I see myself in these kids and I want to be the role model for them that I never had. If I can help them stay on track long enough for them to respond deeply to God, I know that they will do great things for God.” Max and Dahlia, your lives and ministry are a pattern for us to follow. Thank you for leaving a legacy on the hearts of Hispanic youth and for not using youth ministry as a stepping stone.

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BY WENDY CALDERON

SHOUT: What are the key issues facing the Hispanic church?

MIRANDA: Leadership! As leadership developers, we need to be more concerned about building character in our leaders; and leaders need to be more concerned about being men and women of character. Holistic leaders. Pastors who are relational, but who also have the technical skills necessary to lead the church into the 21st century. Formal education is key here. Rervant Leadership vs. Authoritative Leadership is also a must. Creativity will enhance relevance and round out the leader. More collaboration. We must build God’s Kingdom, not merely our own. Believing more in ourselves. We are made in His image and empowered by His Spirit; what more do we need? Elevate the view of youth ministry. 1) We must elevate youth. Look at the need! 2) Budget money and open the facilities for our youth. We must be willing to pay the price. 3) Provide good leadership. Good people of character first, then the program.

SHOUT: How long have you been in ministry?

MIRANDA: 40 years

SHOUT: What have been the keys to longevity?

MIRANDA: A little stubbornness, flexibility, and focus. I always knew what I wanted to do.

SHOUT: What counsel would you give to young leaders to encourage them to finish well?

MIRANDA: To know themselves, their personality. Who has God made them to be? One’s personality should complement one’s calling, heart’s desires, and spiritual gifting. The other thing is to appreciate their own uniqueness. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Also, never be satisfied with status quo, but always reach for more. Continue to stretch yourself, not compulsively, but “excel still more.”

SHOUT: Did you always have someone motivating you towards excellence or were you more internally motivated?

MIRANDA: Both! My parents motivated me. My mother was a great role model. She was very generous and loving. My father gave me a great work ethic. I expressed that in sports and in work as I was growing up. Additionally, my pastors early in my Christian life were very dedicated and focused ministers. They never made me feel like they were there because there was nothing else to do. They were sold out to ministry! So when I sensed a call to ministry, their example, passion, and persons were instrumental, influential and confirming.

SHOUT: Your parents and pastors have been your mentors. Was it something they just did by example or was it intentional?

MIRANDA: I think it was both non- directive and directive. Non- directive, because they always lived the life. My father would correct me when I was a teenager by saying, “When have you seen me do that?” then the answer was, “Then why should you do that?” So it was by example. But, it was also very directive, with one of my pastors at a very critical time in my life when I was 16. I lost my starting position as the first string quarterback of the high school football team. I was deeply hurt and walked off the field when the coach told me, and walked to church looking for my mother. There was a revival service going on and my mother was in the front row, so I wasn’t about to go up there, but I waited in the back until I could go and talk to her. Meanwhile I heard the gospel. I grew up at church, but this football crisis opened me up to a new sensitivity I had never had before. Just before the pastor gave an alter call, my friends from the team came in, because they wondered where I had gone. After the altar call, I stood up and said, ” I don’t know about you guys, but I am going forward to give my life to Christ.” Four of them followed, and two gave their life to Christ. So that’s the start of my serious walk with the Lord. Next, the pastor encouraged me to study, so I went to Bible school. The pastor said the church would help pay for part of my schooling. When I came back from school the pastor said you have learned so now put it into practice. He helped me to do evangelism on the street that summer. My first year I did evangelism and the second year I planted a church in the Barrio. I was 17 1/2 years old at that time. The pastor rented a place, gave me the supplies and his blessing and sent me out. He took a hands-on, pro-active approach to developing me. After the following year of bible school when I was 18-1/2, the pastor let me preach the morning services because he said I was more of teacher and he was more of an evangelist, so he would speak in the evening services. He had confidence in me that later gave me confidence in myself. That was a very critical time in my life; that pastor helped me greatly.

SHOUT: Your pastor had confidence in you, and although he may not have had the title “youth pastor”, he did the work of a youth pastor.

MIRANDA: I think he had what every pastor should have. He was able to equip the saints! How better to equip them than when they’re young and responsive, so willing to serve. I think equipping is constructive. A lot of what we call equipping the saints is actually re-constructive. I wish more pastors were willing to build young leaders by affirming and involving them in significant ministry.

SHOUT: How would you exhort youth workers to be more intentional about developing young people?

MIRANDA: Look out for the gifts that young people have, have an extra ear, have an extra eye to see their potential. Pray for that everyday, “Lord help me to see what you see in this young person. Additionally, I think we need to be more serious about leadership development. Youth leaders are key to finding, equipping, and involving our young leaders. We must USE THEM OR LOSE THEM.

Dr. Jesse Miranda is associate dean of Urban and Multi-cultural Affairs at Azusa Pacific University. In addition to teaching theology in the C.P. Haggard School of Theology, he is a Promise Keepers’ board member and speaker as well as the President of the organization, A.M.E.N (Alianza de Ministerios Evangelicos Nacionales).

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BY ROGER FELIPE

Three years ago I was wrestling with my future. I felt trapped between my aspirations to lead a church as a senior pastor and continuing to minister to the youth in my church. I also felt direction-less. Our youth ministry had programs and ministries, but not a vision to set the course. I saw myself “simply floating” through ministry without a clear understanding of the direction and purpose God had for His children.

These were difficult days, weeks and months. Thanks to the prayers of my brothers and to God’s timely promises that encouraged me to wait on Him, things are now different! I no longer doubt that God’s calling on my life is to pastor His little ones. Neither do I have to worry about God’s assignment for my ministry. Through a series of events, heart inclinations and biblical instruction, God has given me insight into His vision for our youth.

God’s vision for our youth is a cell or small group approach to doing ministry. Seeing kids, some as young as twelve years old, leading a small group and learning to become shepherd leaders, is beyond description. The experiences we are enjoying continue to confirm that our understanding of God’s vision is on target.

Our vision statement for our ministry is as follows: “To establish small groups for every school represented in our student body, where every youth can a) experience the love of Christ; b) live in community with one another; c) grow in their relationship with God, and d) provide a safe place where their friends can come to know Christ.”

There are many challenges to consider when beginning any model of ministry. I want to share three challenges I have had to deal with in developing our “Love in Action” community groups.

The foremost challenge pertains to the person who is leading the ministry. Unless you as the spiritual leader over the youth in your local church are led of God, it will be difficult to develop a model that will blossom. When uncertain of what to do or where to go with your ministry, you must simply wait on God, as did the prophet Habakkuk. Only then did the Lord reply and tell him to write his prophecy (Habakkuk 1:17; 2:1).

A second challenge I faced was to trust God to move in the hearts of our kids and adult sponsors. Would kids come to the weekly training? Would they give up another night to meet with their group? Would adults be able to see the vision and give the necessary time to make it a reality? At the end of fourteen months God has blessed us with sixteen student shepherd leaders, five adult sponsors, and nine small groups that meet each week.

A third challenge is the time, effort and commitment that it takes from you and your supporting staff. John Maxwell says that “the road to the next level is always uphill.” When God gives His servant His vision, it will always be bigger than the servant. It will be God-sized. God wants to use dedicated leaders and followers who will labor faithfully along with Him.

Unless God clearly shows me differently, I am convinced that the next twenty years of my life will be invested in this place in order to see this vision come to fruition. To recap, the three challenges you will face as you consider the possibility of starting a small group youth ministry are; 1) your ability to wait and receive God’s vision, 2) your decision to trust God to move in the hearts of people, and 3) your commitment along with your leadership staff to labor with God for the long-haul.

How can you get started in developing small groups in your church? Allow me to provide a few “how to” suggestions.

First, please be sure to do your homework. There are many good books available on how to organize a cell ministry, as well as the philosophy behind its use and success. I suggest the following as good reading materials: Bo Bosher’s book, “Student Impact for the 21st Century” published by Zondervan; “Generating Hope” by Jimmy Long, published by InterVarsity Press; and Bill Beckham’s book, “The Second Reformation” and “Where Do We Go From Here?” by Ralph W. Neighbour, Jr., both published by Touch Publications. You need to research the textbooks and order some small group materials before you plunge into small groups. A good amount of reading up front will help you tremendously.

Second, begin to include small groups as part of your ministry. You may have been afraid of starting this type of ministry because of fear that all other forms of ministry will have to be shut down. Our youth ministry has had cells for over a year, without doing away with Sunday School, discipleship groups, and other avenues of ministry. Whether or not you eventually choose to move to a completely cell-based model of youth ministry doesn’t have to prevent you from developing some small groups now.

Third, organize for growth. You must decide who will make up your leadership team and how often you will meet with them. We meet once a week with both student leaders and adult sponsors for one and a half hours of training. This includes prayer, team building, discussion, administrative details, preparation for the following week, and some type of discipleship instruction. Also, you will need to determine if each group will move around or will remain in one location. After trying the former we now ask kids to commit to one location for their group meetings.

Fourth, invest time into your leadership team. Eat together, retreat together and build close relationships with student leaders and adult sponsors.

Fifth, cast the vision continually. Once God has given you His vision, be sure to cast it before your staff, your leadership team, your youth, their parents, and anyone who will listen. I’ve taken several groups onto a high school campus and shared the vision for winning hundreds of kids through youth-led small groups. In order to help people understand why they need to commit to this form of ministry you will need to help them see what you see. Cast your vision creatively and frequently.

Youth-led small groups can powerfully impact your local church and community. If God so leads your ministry, He will enable you to be faithful in developing small communities of young believers who will care for and serve one another and who will learn to reach out to friends with the love of Christ.

Suggestion: Cell-based curriculum in English can be ordered from High Impact Publishing, 1-800-72-YOUTH. Also, “Student Impact Small Groups Resources” is published by Zondervan. To order, call (847) 765-0070.

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BY JEFFREY DE LEON

En un entrenamiento, no hace muchos meses, una señorita encargada de un grupo de jóvenes local se me acercó y me contó sus frustraciones con relación a la famosa directiva.

“Cada año cuando celebramos las elecciones, se convierte todo en una broma o en un juego de poder.”

Ella notó que la forma tradicional ya no era eficaz y quería saber cómo poder cambiar la tradición.

¡¡CUIDADO!! Todo buen cambio cuesta. Por muchos años “la directiva” ha reinado en los grupos juveniles. Regularmente las directivas se eligen cada año con nuevo presidente (a), vicepresidente (a), secretaria (o), tesorero (a), vocal 1, vocal 2, vocal 3…vocal 7 y un montón de comités. Ya es tiempo que nos preguntemos: ¿Es la directiva la mejor de alcanzar a nuestros jóvenes? ¿Qué es lo que realmente pretendemos lograr con una directiva juvenil? ¿Existen otras formas de trabajar con jóvenes que son más efectivas? Aquí te sugerimos algunas cosas que te pueden ayudar a evaluar el caso de tu iglesia.

1. Reconoce que existe la necesidad de cambio. PRECAUCION. Los cambios pueden ser saludables, pero tambíen pueden perjudicar.

2. Averigua ¿por qué se ha hecho así por tantos años? PRECAUCION. No sólo escribas las cosas negativas que averigues sino también las positivas.

3. Escribe en una hoja de papel tus propias ideas acerca de: a. ¿Por qué debe cambiar? (Ejemplo: No está supliendo las necesidades) b. ¿Por qué puede cambiar? (Ejemplo: Porque existen otros métodos para lograr alcanzar metas. La directiva no es la única forma) c. ¿En qué beneficia o perjudica el cambio?

4. Presenta tus ideas escritas al liderazgo de tu iglesia y sueña con ellos acerca de la posibilidad de “pastorear” a los jóvenes de tu iglesia, en lugar de “administrarlos” a través de una directiva. Recuerda que lo que debemos buscar es proveerle a nuestros jóvenes la oportunidad consistente para practicar sus dones y talentos. (¿Crees que un año de servicio en una directiva logra este cometido?)

Recuerda que nuestro deseo principal en nuestros ministerios debe de ser el de glorificar a Dios en todo lo que hacemos. 1 Corintios 10:31.

Jeffery De León es el presidente del Instituto para El Ministerio Juvenil, pastor de jovenes de la Iglesia Emmanuel en Chicago y estudiante del programa doctoral en Trinity International University.

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God is doing a new thing or maybe it’s an old thing but we are finally listening! God is bringing together Hispanic youth leaders to share their strengths and to elevate the view and effectiveness of Hispanic youth ministry!

In an attempt to “fan into flame” this work of God, a Hispanic Youth Ministry Network (H.Y.M.N.), has been formed. This is a volunteer association of Hispanic leaders who are radically committed to seeing youth ministry in our Latino churches go to the next level. The Hispanic Ministry Center (HMC) in Santa Ana, California, has been a catalyst for this endeavor for the past four years since its inception, but has recently launched some new strategies to catalyze the plan through a grant from the PEW Charitable Trusts in Philadelphia, PA. These new strategies include:

National Hispanic Leadership Summits- These are gatherings for veteran Hispanic youth workers (Men- September 12-15, 1997/Women- March 13-15, 1998).

A Hispanic Youth Ministry Network (H.Y.M.N.)- A volunteer association of Hispanic youth leaders from across the country.

An HMC/H.Y.M.N. Web Site: The Internet is a great way for Hispanic youth workers to network, share great ideas, and to learn about the latest youth ministry resources, youth events, and up-coming youth worker training events. Check us out at www.hmconline.org!

Resource Creation: We need relevant youth ministry resources! Our champion youth workers must rise up and create the materials that will influence this generation and the next.

Leadership Development: We desperately need trained youth leaders who can shepherd this generation of young people. HMC will be collaborating with HYMN leaders in order to provide practical youth ministry training events in various regions across the country.

H.Y.M.N. Newsletter: Communication is key and greatly helps to fuel a movement. We certainly hope that through your contributions and your promotion of this resource that this newsletter will encourage and equip youth leaders while elevating the view of Hispanic Youth Ministry in our churches.

As you can see, the strategies are in place, the youth workers are coming together, and TOGETHER we will lift Hispanic youth ministry to the next level. I sincerely believe that this is God’s will in these last days for this “harrassed and helpless” generation (Matthew 9:36) and we would love for you to join us in this great cause.

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