And so it begins...

Well, here's my first attempt at blogging. We'll see how this works. Hang on, folks...

I've just embarked on a summer adventure that's going to take me around the country. I'm doing a ministry fellowship (awarded me by the Fund for Theological Education). I'm looking at youth ministry with at-risk young people. The title of my project is Finding Sanctuary: providing safety, building trust and shaping community among at-risk youth. I am asking the questions: what makes a young person at-risk, why is it important to reach out to vulnerable young people, what tools and resources do churches/pastors/youth directors use to connect with at-risk young people, and what are the long-term effects of such ministry? I'm pretty thrilled to be out and about all summer, traveling around the country, meeting awesome pastors, youth directors, camp counselors, and of course young people!

My pre-work consisted of chatting it up with some youth directors at the Greater Milwaukee Synod Assembly. Then I headed out to the Twin Cities, my old stomping ground, to pick the brains of some very excellent folks there doing incredible things with youth.

My first two days of conversations took me to the Youth and Family Institute and to Augsburg College. Marilyn Sharpe, Lyle Griner, and Ross Murray were EXTREMELY helpful in sharing their experiences and wisdom in working with youth, families, and at-risk young people.

Some common thoughts they shared:

• In some ways, all young people are at-risk, because they're all vulnerable
• It's important to meet the young people where they're at-- listen to them and what they say their needs are
• BOUNDARIES BOUNDARIES BOUNDARIES... It's very important that at-risk young people know they can count on you and your care, but also that they have clear set rules and boundaries with adults
• There isn't really any one "magical" curriculum out there to work with every youth group or at-risk child
• What's most important isn't necessarily what you do-- it's why... the specific actions youth workers take in reaching out to young people may be different, but what matters most is the desired outcomes in working with them

I think those are some pretty insightful thoughts. I think as I go on, I'll be looking for more stories of people who've worked with at-risk young people and will be interested in knowing what things have worked the best.

I'll also be exploring my own memories of life as a kid from a troubled home, and how my youth group and pastor became trusting, loving, affirming communities of support for me in high school, when I was most vulnerable myself.

Well, that's enough for today... Any thoughts so far on what I'm doing-- I'd love to hear...

peace,
Alexis