Comments on: My response to Dare 2 Share’s “Deep & Wide” ministry strategy http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/ Conversations among those passionate for teenagers. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:48:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: I Dare Your Youth Ministry to D2S | Youth Ministry Ideas http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-161306 I Dare Your Youth Ministry to D2S | Youth Ministry Ideas Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:35:04 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-161306 [...] of Dare2Share has some great material called Deep and Wide that I’m excited to check out. Tim Schmoyer my good youth ministry blogger friend has some great detail about what Deep and Wide has done for [...] [...] of Dare2Share has some great material called Deep and Wide that I’m excited to check out. Tim Schmoyer my good youth ministry blogger friend has some great detail about what Deep and Wide has done for [...]

]]> By: Scott Stoops http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-112701 Scott Stoops Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:48:45 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-112701 I am fairly new to youth ministry (as an adult volunteer), though I have been a follower of Christ for many years and ministered in other areas. I read the Deep and Wide Thesis with great eagerness. For myself, it has been a great check of where I am in my own depth and outreach. We have gone through several youth pastors over the past few years. We've gone from broad outreach and little depth to trying to cultivate depth even if the group remains small. I don't see that either is an option. It is not either/or but both. I really like that this is not just hype or some new methodology. It is intended to remind us of true biblical ministry regardless of who we are trying to reach. Fundamentally, we need to be relying on and seeking God in how we approach any ministry. Programs may be tools that are used but they should not replace people committed to Jesus Christ who prayerfully and in reliance upon the Holy Spirit minister to all whom God has given us. We grow because we see that Christ far exceeds all other things and we desire him above all else. We want to become like him in every way. Our teens will do the same. I am fairly new to youth ministry (as an adult volunteer), though I have been a follower of Christ for many years and ministered in other areas. I read the Deep and Wide Thesis with great eagerness. For myself, it has been a great check of where I am in my own depth and outreach. We have gone through several youth pastors over the past few years. We’ve gone from broad outreach and little depth to trying to cultivate depth even if the group remains small. I don’t see that either is an option. It is not either/or but both.

I really like that this is not just hype or some new methodology. It is intended to remind us of true biblical ministry regardless of who we are trying to reach. Fundamentally, we need to be relying on and seeking God in how we approach any ministry. Programs may be tools that are used but they should not replace people committed to Jesus Christ who prayerfully and in reliance upon the Holy Spirit minister to all whom God has given us.

We grow because we see that Christ far exceeds all other things and we desire him above all else. We want to become like him in every way. Our teens will do the same.

]]> By: MattCleaver.com » Examining Dare 2 Share’s “Deep and Wide Youth Ministry Thesis”: Introductory Thoughts http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-83637 MattCleaver.com » Examining Dare 2 Share’s “Deep and Wide Youth Ministry Thesis”: Introductory Thoughts Tue, 13 May 2008 14:20:19 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-83637 [...] some reason I took a keen interest in Tim Schmoyer’s post last week regarding the fairly new document produced by Dare 2 Share (D2S) called the “Deep and Wide Youth [...] [...] some reason I took a keen interest in Tim Schmoyer’s post last week regarding the fairly new document produced by Dare 2 Share (D2S) called the “Deep and Wide Youth [...]

]]> By: Gman http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-83308 Gman Mon, 12 May 2008 00:36:39 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-83308 Thanks Tim for the great reminder that Growth is based on us alone but on God giving the increase ...I think we too often miss that fact of the Hoyl Spirit's role! Thanks Tim for the great reminder that Growth is based on us alone but on God giving the increase …I think we too often miss that fact of the Hoyl Spirit’s role!

]]> By: Jim http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-82781 Jim Thu, 08 May 2008 20:37:36 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-82781 I read the deep and wide ministry thesis as well a couple months ago... It was great!!! i found myself being very challenged as a youth director to want to implement some of Greg's ideas. I would encourage all youth leaders to read this... every youth leader wants to see their student's grasp and understand Jesus' truths and promies, while also have a group that is growing... deep and wide... deep and wide... there's a fountain flowing deep and wide... I read the deep and wide ministry thesis as well a couple months ago…

It was great!!! i found myself being very challenged as a youth director to want to implement some of Greg’s ideas.

I would encourage all youth leaders to read this…

every youth leader wants to see their student’s grasp and understand Jesus’ truths and promies, while also have a group that is growing…

deep and wide… deep and wide… there’s a fountain flowing deep and wide…

]]> By: Tim Schmoyer http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-82765 Tim Schmoyer Thu, 08 May 2008 18:05:40 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-82765 @ P. Ngwolo: Good question. It starts with you. Since we should never ask our students to do something we're not doing ourselves, it needs to start with us going deep and wide on a personal basis. Develop a passion for God's Word and a burden for the lost souls around you. If you're in the little Christian bubble most pastors are in, get out of it. Get into the community and build relationships with pre-Christians. Then let that passion and burden flow from you and into your ministry as the Holy Spirit works through you. Critically evaluate your ministry, what needs to go, what needs to be tweaked, and what needs to start in order to help move kids along the continuum of being apathetic to passionate. And whatever you do, saturate the entire process in prayer. Beg God and His Holy Spirit to move in you and in your group. @ P. Ngwolo: Good question. It starts with you. Since we should never ask our students to do something we’re not doing ourselves, it needs to start with us going deep and wide on a personal basis. Develop a passion for God’s Word and a burden for the lost souls around you. If you’re in the little Christian bubble most pastors are in, get out of it. Get into the community and build relationships with pre-Christians. Then let that passion and burden flow from you and into your ministry as the Holy Spirit works through you. Critically evaluate your ministry, what needs to go, what needs to be tweaked, and what needs to start in order to help move kids along the continuum of being apathetic to passionate. And whatever you do, saturate the entire process in prayer. Beg God and His Holy Spirit to move in you and in your group.

]]> By: P. Ngwolo http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-82762 P. Ngwolo Thu, 08 May 2008 17:55:55 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-82762 So where did you start as far as implementing this shift? The volunteers or the students? What were your first steps? So where did you start as far as implementing this shift? The volunteers or the students? What were your first steps?

]]> By: Matt Cleaver http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-82761 Matt Cleaver Thu, 08 May 2008 17:51:30 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-82761 Tim: Good thoughts on the shrinking. I agree that pruning might often be in order. Tim: Good thoughts on the shrinking. I agree that pruning might often be in order.

]]> By: Tim Schmoyer http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-82760 Tim Schmoyer Thu, 08 May 2008 17:30:52 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-82760 @ Matt: Thanks man, that would be very helpful! @ P. Ngwolo: I'd encourage you to <a href="http://www.studentministry.org/2008/04/15/spiritual-growth-shifting-my-approach-to-youth-ministry/" rel="nofollow">read about it here.</a> That kinda outlines what's been going on in my youth group. It's worth mentioning that a youth group may numerically shrink before it grows as a result of D&W. When I worked at a church in Virginia, I came to a youth group of about 30 kids. Three weeks later the group was only about 7 kids and the church's leadership pulled me into a room to discuss what I was doing wrong. The fact is, the kids who left were the ones who were only there for free food and to play games. When we started studying God's Word, they stopped coming. The 7 who remained were the ones who were actually serious about their faith and had a desire to grow. As a result, by the end of the summer those 7 kids were totally on fire for God and took serious ownership over their youth group so that when I left the interim position those 7 kids were moving ahead at full-steam with their youth group, their personal relationship with God and reaching out to those around them. @ Matt: Thanks man, that would be very helpful!

@ P. Ngwolo: I’d encourage you to read about it here. That kinda outlines what’s been going on in my youth group.

It’s worth mentioning that a youth group may numerically shrink before it grows as a result of D&W. When I worked at a church in Virginia, I came to a youth group of about 30 kids. Three weeks later the group was only about 7 kids and the church’s leadership pulled me into a room to discuss what I was doing wrong. The fact is, the kids who left were the ones who were only there for free food and to play games. When we started studying God’s Word, they stopped coming. The 7 who remained were the ones who were actually serious about their faith and had a desire to grow. As a result, by the end of the summer those 7 kids were totally on fire for God and took serious ownership over their youth group so that when I left the interim position those 7 kids were moving ahead at full-steam with their youth group, their personal relationship with God and reaching out to those around them.

]]> By: P. Ngwolo http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-82758 P. Ngwolo Thu, 08 May 2008 17:24:43 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-82758 What results numerically and spiritually have you seen since you commenced this shift in your youth ministry? What results numerically and spiritually have you seen since you commenced this shift in your youth ministry?

]]> By: Matt Cleaver http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-82755 Matt Cleaver Thu, 08 May 2008 17:14:41 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-82755 I'm going to try to get some thoughts posted in the next few days. I’m going to try to get some thoughts posted in the next few days.

]]> By: Greg http://www.studentministry.org/my-response-to-dare-2-shares-deep-wide-ministry-strategy/comment-page-1/#comment-82730 Greg Thu, 08 May 2008 13:37:04 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=921#comment-82730 Thanks again Tim for your excellent feedback. I'm hoping that many of your readers will give even more feedback. As we tighten this idea up and re-address the thesis we want to get as much valid, Biblical and practical insight as possible. Our goal is to provide a simple and effective idea that can be easily implemented and see results as they allow the HOLY SPIRIT to drive the process through them. Thanks again Tim for your excellent feedback. I’m hoping that many of your readers will give even more feedback. As we tighten this idea up and re-address the thesis we want to get as much valid, Biblical and practical insight as possible. Our goal is to provide a simple and effective idea that can be easily implemented and see results as they allow the HOLY SPIRIT to drive the process through them.

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