I was on a plane recently and was looking out the window at the clouds.  I love doing that.  It free’s my mind from so many things.  Nobody can call my cell, I typically can’t check email, and I always request a window seat.  I used to request the aisle, but have found that the window allows me to really think, pray, and process much better.  Plus I don’t feel so confined – just a personal issue, I guess.

I’m often praying for God’s favor and blessing on our ministry.  And I’m always, of course, seeking to be in tune with what He wants for us.  Well, recently as I was enjoying the beauty of clouds and mountain tops, I was praying through ministry.  And something hit me like a ton of bricks.  And that is that I can’t expect God to bless what I’m doing.

Yeah, I said that.

All the sudden I realized that God doesn’t bless what I’m doing.  He blesses what He’s doing.  And, in fact, He always blesses what He’s doing.  The question is: am I in line with what He’s doing?

Are you asking God to bless what you’re doing…..or are you in tune with what He’s doing?  If it’s the latter, then no worries.  God always blesses what He’s doing!  We just have to be in line with that…

I am NEVER surprised at what college age people do, can do, and won’t surprised at what they will continue to do.  For instance, I have friends that started organizations like Invisible Children…in their early twenties.  Jason Russell, the founder of Invisible Children, used to crash in my room at Hume Lake in the summer of 1999. We worked there together. He was always passionate, went to film school at USC, and wanted to be a part of something amazing. It’s crazy to see what God has done through them there!

And I just came across this video, which happened to win Donald Miller’s video contest for a person living a great story.  At the end of the video take a look at who’s invested in this.  Yep, college age people….

“Slipping through the cracks” is a cliché term used for many things, but unfortunately it’s all too familiar in our churches. Mostly it’s come to define what happens to many kids as they transition out of high school youth ministry.

Ministries intentionally reaching college-age people cannot solve the entire issue, but the lack of them certainly contributes to the drop-off during this transition. Most churches have yet to embrace a ministry specifically to this life stage, leaving them without guidance and often feeling unwanted and detached. They don’t fit in our traditional ideas of student ministry anymore, and they certainly don’t feel like adults.

Means vs. End
The evaluation of whether or not a high school ministry is successful must include how it helps students transition into adulthood. Without embracing this idea, we hinder the growth and maturity of our young people.

Once our kids graduate from high school ministries, many disconnect. Yet our actions scream, “We don’t care about you anymore! You don’t belong in our church! You’re not important enough for us to address your life stage issues!” Of course we would never say that and our heart certainly doesn’t feel that way, but our actions seem to be speaking louder than either.

Is the point of our high school ministry to get students to come, or is it a small part of the life long discipleship process of individuals? Is our high school ministry the end, or is it a means to a greater end? For both questions I hope it’s the latter. If not, we’ve falsely defined success in ministry.

Necessary Recognitions
Before we look at practical ways in which we can help our graduates transition into adulthood, I want to make sure we understand why we………….to read the rest of the article click here

I recently read an article in USA Today called, “Millenials Are Honest About Faith.”  In the article Mark Driscoll articulated a few things he recognizes across the country.  I agree with much of this with some nuances I might add, re-clarify, or subtract, but I’m wondering if you agree or disagree…?  Here’s what he said:

“One, adolescence is extending into the early thirties. Practically, this means that young people are delaying most major life decisions from career path to marriage, children, and even which set of spiritual beliefs they will adhere to. Subsequently, their ambiguity and lack of certainty about Christian doctrines is not surprising in light of their entire life.

Two, young people are committed to churches not built for them but built by them. Around the country young people are flocking to churches that have clear authoritative Bible teaching about real life issues, are lead by authentic leaders, include night services, use online social media, embrace technology, serve the poor and suffering, strive for community, encourage creativity, and allow young leaders to lead at the highest levels.

Three, young people are more spiritually honest. The days of feeling some sort of cultural pressure to adhere to historic Christian truths is simply gone. Subsequently, we may not be seeing younger people less devoted to Jesus Christ but simply more people being honest so that those who in the past would have professed faith they did not possess or practice are simply being honest which is more admirable than being a hypocrite.”

What do you think?  Seen this in your context or ministry?

If you’d like to read the entire article, click here.

Well, tomorrow, bright and early I’ll be heading out to Atlanta for the Orange Conference.  I’m really looking forward to it.  Some people have tried to contact me to connect while we’re there.  If I haven’t gotten back to you I apologize.  I’ve been trying to leave it open in case there was changes.  Thankfully I did, because it has been changed tremendously…even found out some more changes last night!  So, if I didn’t get back to you and you’d still like to connect, the best way to get a hold of me is find me at a seminar (see below), or contact me through Twitter or a comment here.  I will say, that sometimes the comments here don’t come to my phone – don’t really know why.  But, you can try.  I will be checking “mentions” on my Twitter account, and of course talking to you if you find me at a seminar.

Either way, I’d love to connect if we can make it work.  Here is my speaking schedule:

• Wednesday (preconference) 2:45-4:00.  Seminar Title: College-age Confusion
• Friday Main Session 9:00-10:45.  Will be interviewed by Reggie.
• Friday Breakout C,  11:30-12:30.  Seminar Title: The College Leader

I have other meetings and things I need to be at, but you will certainly be able to find me at the above.  I am also planning on being at the Student Ministry Networking Event at Dave and Busters on Thursday evening.  That is just a hang out time, so that could be good to connect there.  I apologize, but I don’t have any more meals open….but I’m sure I could find time for a cup of coffee

I’ll do my best to blog while I’m there, but we’ll have to see how that goes……

Benson Hines recently posted about his experience at CU Boulder.  I recommend reading it, click here for that and to see some pictures he took of the event.  It was an annual party celebrating marijuana.  Huge event.  I mean, really big.  I’ve never attended this event – I would love to be there at some point to see it – but I have heard about it from others.  Wait, let me clarify…I would of course not “participate.”  I would simply observe and potentially get into a conversation or two.  But experiencing these types of college campus events firsthand is crucial to understanding the culture we’re seeking to reach.

Benson is a voice, among others, that emphasizes the importance of understanding the different cultures (or “tribes”) of campuses.  The truth is, and he says this often as well, every campus is very unique from any other.  Each school has unique traditions, celebrations, chants.  And, we MUST dive into the uniqueness of the campuses we are working with.

What traditions, odd celebrations, or outrageously huge events does the campus you’re seeking to reach have?

If you’re leading a college ministry – in any context – and you’re on Twitter….let me know!  I want to follow you and hear about your ministry!  My username is @chuckbomar

Well, okay, The Slow Fade: Why You Matter In The Story Of Twentysomethings is now available.  This is a book written to and for adults who want to, or need to be encourage to, invest in college age people.  I thought I would post a Q&A we did about the book to help give the best picture of our hearts for it.  If you’d like to see the table of contents and/or purchase a copy the book, click here.  I hope this is a help to you as you seek to build into and equip the faithful adults serving college age people in your ministry…or those you are still trying to have help you!

Q: In your book, The Slow Fade, you relay that statistics show somewhere between 65 and 80% of people who grow up in church will drop out of church when they become college-aged. How long has this been going on?
A: The trend of eighteen- to twenty-five-year-olds disengaging from church and faith has been a growing problem for more than twenty years. While those who are college-aged are increasingly fading out of the picture, mainstream denominations and independent churches are slowly graying and declining in attendance. The sad news is that churches’ strategies to reach these twentysomethings have not significantly adjusted to respond to this issue. When you ask the average church what their plan is for college-aged people, you usually get confused looks. Frankly, twentysomethings are perceived by most leaders in churches as a transient demographic, people who don’t tithe and who need to solidify their faith on their own.

Q: What is happening in the lives of these young people as they begin the “slow fade?”
A: The one thing they have in common is they all are becoming disconnected from their communities of faith. At a time in their lives when their faith should be accelerating, it has begun to dim. At a stage when they’re developing a new network of friends, there is a relational gap. At the moment they are beginning to wrestle with what they thought was certain, they are missing voices they know they can trust. They are fading off the radar of those who were their Christian leaders during the very season when they are trying to solidify what they really believe. It is not intentional on anyone’s part. No one is deliberately orchestrating the fade. It is just out of sight, out of mind. And some of the most influential and promising leaders of faith for the next generation are being ignored and gradually fading from [...]

Continue Reading “New Book For Volunteers”

Regional Trainings Planned

Okay, we are moving forward at CollegeLeader and planning our regional trainings for the 2010 year.  I know, a little late now – 3 1/2 months have already past by.  BUT, better late than never….right?

We are planning on being in at least 6 states this year, and in 8 or 9 different cities.  This year the training will be covering at least the following topics:

• The role of a college ministry in the structure of a church
• Helping college age people find belonging in a church (not just our ministry)
• Realistically defining and measuring success with college age people
• Overcoming obstacles faced with the separation of generations
• Connecting older adults as mentors – overcoming challenges, what to look for and keep in balance
• Necessary shifts in teaching and discipleship approaches
• Creating a culture that understands the importance of investing in college age people
• Practical ways for assimilating college age people into the fabric of your church

For details and registration info, click here.  Registration is only open for the Portland, OR regional right now.  But all the info, schedule, locations, etc. are posted and will remain the same (or at least extremely close).

CollegeLeader Conference

I realize we’re pushing the envelope on this one a little bit with the days flying by.  BUT we ARE planning to do a conference in the fall – probably in October.  What’s the hang up on setting a date?  Well, we are exploring the possibility of partnering with and having our conference at Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, where I was on staff for just short of 9 years.   This would also be in partnership with Eternity Bible College.  There are still some nuances to work out, which is the hang up on confirming this.  What are the nuances?  Well, to simplify, Cornerstone is an ever-changing environment and very fast paced.  That to say, to put anything in cement 6-7 months out is a bit tough.  So, hang in there…details are coming…I promise.

We live in a world of labels and categories.  Everything has to fit into something.  And perhaps among the widest of these categories is the one labeled, “Emergent.”

I’ve been told that I’m Emergent.  Sometimes I’m asked, but recently a few people have just labeled me that.  When this issue is brought to my attention I always respond with a question, “What is your definition of Emergent?”  I had one person tell me that I’m Emergent because I used the word “journey” in a message.  Another was concerned because I did an overview of a book of the Bible (Ecclesiastes) in a talk versus going verse by verse and phrase by phrase.   I’ve had another person assume I’m Emergent because my churches website didn’t have the exact words, “Triune God” anywhere on it (as if I don’t believe in a “Triune” God simply because it’s not explicitly articulate on a website).

Do those things really define someone as “Emergent?”  If so, I think that’s crazy.

I’ve yet to hear anyone ask me a theological question.  No one has asked me what I think about a specific  statement or view proposed in a book by someone that actually claims to be Emergent.  I’ve yet to have anybody ask me my view of Scripture.  And nobody has asked me my definition of “Emergent.”  It just seems like anything outside of anybody’s personal realm of normality is to be labeled Emergent…?

My hunch is that if I were asked some of the questions above I would be more conservative than many of those asking the question. And my guess is if I asked for everyone to post their definition of what “Emergent” is we would have hundreds of different definitions.  And I would assume if I asked what sort of things would “tip you off” on someone being Emergent, we would have a list thousands of ideas long.

That to say, I’d love for the label to disappear.   Not because I’ve been labeled it by a few people, but because it’s not really a label or category anymore.  It seems to have simply become anything different than we’re used to.  But, if me at times being a little “unorthodox” in order to bring the unchanging gospel message to a lost world labels me Emergent, I guess I’ll take the label…even though I went to one of the most conservative seminaries our country has to offer…