Steve Griffiths - Models for Youth Ministry: Learning from the Life of Christ

In proposing a kairos-based Christological-ministry, Steve Griffiths offers a theologically rooted approach to work with young people which offers greater depth and insight than the more narrowly focused incarnational models. Grounded in both theology and practice, this book is essential reading for those wanting to be more Christlike in their ministry.

The Revd Dr Sally Nash, Director of the Midlands Centre for Youth Ministry and co-author of The Faith of Generation Y , Skills for Collaborative Ministry and Tools for Reflective Ministry

I am grateful to Steve for writing this provocative, scholarly and practically informed contribution to the field of youth ministry. Steve reclaims the essence of ministering among young people through a considered exploration of the life of Christ, unravelling the misconceptions that can lead to an incomplete presentation of the gospel message. He challenges us to go beyond the limitations of relational youth ministry and to embrace kairos moments that flow from the youth ministers spiritual discipline. This should be essential reading for all youth ministry students and it provides a timely wake-up call to the seasoned youth minister.

Paul Fenton, Principal, Oasis College of Higher Education, London

This book takes theological thinking on youth ministry forward in leaps and bounds. It offers a clear challenge that a Christlike ministry starts with us becoming Christlike. This book will stretch your thinking on youth ministry and inspire your practice.

Dr Nick Shepherd, CEO of the Centre for Youth Ministry

The Revd Dr Steve Griffiths is Rector of the Linton Team Ministry, Cambridge. He has specialized in youth ministry throughout his ministerial career and was Director of the Centre for Youth Ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, from 2005 to 2009. He writes a regular column, Saints and Martyrs, for Youthwork magazine. He was Chair of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry from 2001 to 2009 and was a founding editor of the International Journal of Youth and Theology . He has provided extensive training for youth workers in the UK, USA, Scandanavia, Europe and South Africa, and is a regular speaker at conferences. He is also the author of God in the Valley: A journey through grief (BRF, 2003; reissued 2010), Redeem the Time (Christian Focus, 2001) and a number of academic and popular articles on youth work. You can visit his blog at and see his tweets @stmaryslinton

First published in Great Britain in 2013

Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge

36 Causton Street

London SW1P 4ST

www.spckpublishing.co.uk

Copyright Steve Griffiths 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

SPCK does not necessarily endorse the individual views contained in its publications.

Scripture quotations from the Old Testament are the authors own translation from the Septuagint, using Brentons version (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 14th printing, May 2011). Quotations from the New Testament are the authors own translation from the Greek, using the UBS version edited by Kurt Aland et al. (Stuttgart, Germany: United Bible Society, 3rd edn, 1983).

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9780281070510

eBook ISBN 9780281070527

Typeset and eBook by Graphicraft Limited, Hong Kong

This work is dedicated to the students at the Centre for Youth Ministry, Cambridge past and present who have graciously allowed me to test out the ideas contained in this book on them over the past few years!

Special thanks, as ever, go to Jo, Scott, Lee and Rebekah

Contents

This book is the product of more than a decade of thinking, writing, teaching and speaking. Unlike most of my other research projects which are generally crafted in the solitude of my study with only dusty books for companionship this book has grown out of lectures, seminars and many conversations in which I have participated in the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, the United States, Central Europe and Norway. Literally dozens of youth ministry practitioners and academics helped me to develop my ideas in this first stage. I am grateful to them all for being willing to share their own experiences with me, for the encouragements they gave me and also for pointing out the flaws in my argument.

There has been an evolution in my thinking on this topic. After presenting my ideas in lectures and seminars I published a small book, A Christlike Ministry (Haverhill, Essex: YTC Press, 2008), that contained the bare bones of my thesis. Since then, I have continued to refine and apply, to listen and re-consider. I am immensely grateful to all those who have helped me through the second stage of this process.

For support in the first stage, I am grateful especially to the Revd Dr Bob Mayo and Professor Malan Nel for being useful sounding boards. In the second stage, I am grateful to Martin Saunders for giving me a wider platform for my ideas at the 2011 Youthwork Summit. That occasion resulted in very helpful feedback.

I am grateful to Tracey Messenger at SPCK for her patience and wise guidance in helping me think through some of the claims in this book in more depth.

Most especially, I would like to acknowledge the input of my wife, ministry partner and best friend, Jo, who has always been willing to go beyond the call of duty in listening to me long after most peoples eyes have glazed over out of sheer boredom!

I was 12, maybe 13 at the time. At that embarrassingly pubescent age, the thought of going to a party with parents was not my idea of fun. But other than the customary complaining that is part of the ritual of conversation with ones elders at that age, I did not complain too much. Despite my necessary protestations, the neighbour hosting the party was actually of considerable interest to me. He had, in his time, been a roadie for a number of my favourite bands, including Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones. As a novice guitarist, with ambitions way beyond my talent, I was intrigued by the stories he told of life with the rich and famous. Perhaps his party wouldnt be too bad. The music would be good, at least.

Within minutes of arriving, the host introduced me to an Oriental man. You should talk to Phil, he said enthusiastically. Hes a cracking bass guitarist and session musician. Hes played with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart. The fact that I was a fan of neither Ronnie Wood nor Rod Stewart was no barrier to my delight. Here was a real musician! I was in awe of the demi-god in whose presence I now stood.

I dont remember our conversation. But I do remember the fact that he sat politely with me on the stairs for four hours as I pounded his ears and saturated his brain with questions. I do remember the extraordinary patience of a man who was forced to regale an acne-covered schoolboy with stories of his even more extraordinary career. I do remember the fact that his eye contact never wavered and that he almost looked interested as I enthusiastically took him through the extent of my repertoire after only six months of playing. I do remember that he gave me a plectrum. He said it was Ronnie Woods. Ive still got it. It may or may not have once belonged to someone famous. Probably didnt. But thats not the point, is it?