tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post5414878345763190671..comments2023-10-03T10:53:51.102-04:00Comments on Next Generation Evangelistic Network: Reaching the Next Generation by Building a Sense of CommunityDr. Terry Dorsetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05964444127928103488noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-78393958558981932712011-03-02T18:19:14.215-05:002011-03-02T18:19:14.215-05:00The last sentence should say, "aren't doi...The last sentence should say, "aren't doing it their way." LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-61037153983784077442010-05-27T10:11:50.829-04:002010-05-27T10:11:50.829-04:00The last sentence should say "aren't doin...The last sentence should say "aren't doing it there way."Toddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-9417743753634272072010-05-27T10:09:25.012-04:002010-05-27T10:09:25.012-04:00Dr. Dorsett,
I think it is interesting that you co...Dr. Dorsett,<br />I think it is interesting that you consider your efforts with parents to only have "mixed" results. According to your own words above your church has reached 24 unchurched parents and grandparents. I don't know many churches in Vermont that have reached that many unchurched adults. Most churches just steal members from nearby churches. The fact that you are reaching unchurched people and not sheep stealing is remarkable. I would say your results are "fabulous," not "mixed. You may never reach as many adults as you do teens, but clearly you are reaching more adults that most churches in your area. Keep up the good work and do not let anyone beat you down because you are doing it their way.<br /><br />ToddToddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-29748737135369037132010-05-26T18:51:06.459-04:002010-05-26T18:51:06.459-04:00I'm all for fellowship, but I'm not sure t...I'm all for fellowship, but I'm not sure that I've seen movies advertised that are language/content suitable to take my youth to....nor would I promote them staying out "until the wee hours of the morning"...I would have just left it at "playing card games." But that's just my thoughts.Margie Butlernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-149488985268380452010-05-26T12:05:39.876-04:002010-05-26T12:05:39.876-04:00We are not attempting to create an environment in ...We are not attempting to create an environment in which there is no parental involvement. We have reached out to the parents, but are only having limited success.<br /><br />Of the 180 mostly unchurched youth we are ministering to on a regular basis, only 5 unchurched parents have gotten significantly involved and another 5 are sporadic in their involvment. However, 8 of the grandparents have gotten significantly involved with another half dozen or so loosely involved. I do not know how that compares statistically to other youth focused ministries, but I rejoice in the limited success we have had in reaching parents and grandparents.<br /><br />Since we have specifically targeted unchurched young people we rarely get a whole "Christian" family to come join our church, though we have had a couple of those types of families who joined with us in the beginning and do have three such families currently worshipping with us who I suspect will most likely join our church.<br /><br />But it is not our goal to suck all the young families out of nearby churches. Instead we are targeted non-churched young people who do not go to church anywhere. That is our mission and we are quite focused on it. We rejoice that other people have other focuii and pray God's blessings upon them.Dr. Terry W. Dorsetthttp://www.vermontbaptist.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-49210784803872881272010-05-26T11:42:29.803-04:002010-05-26T11:42:29.803-04:00I would like to ask again... Are you promoting a c...I would like to ask again... Are you promoting a culture that perpetuates non-parent involvement?Youth Desiring Godnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-72734725625213447342010-05-25T13:03:58.433-04:002010-05-25T13:03:58.433-04:00In the past, the concept was that if you did somet...In the past, the concept was that if you did something for someone's children, you would reach the parent too because parents cared more about their children than they did about themselves. Sadly, that is not as true in modern society as it once was. Many parents are quite content to send us their young people to "fix" while they continue going down a path that can only lead to pain. <br /><br />I am very grateful to know that if a parent does want to experience new life in Christ but does not care for our particular worship style or the types of ministries we offer, there are a number of other excellent churches in our area that would be great alternatives for parents. We have a number of young people who come to our church regularly but whose parents attend other churches. So long as everyone's spiritual needs are met, the Lord gets the glory.Dr. Terry W. Dorsetthttp://www.vermontbaptist.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-20179903305316049722010-05-25T12:19:47.363-04:002010-05-25T12:19:47.363-04:00Do you think you are going to evangelize the paren...Do you think you are going to evangelize the parents if you are continually targeting only youth?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-58596525737785498172010-05-25T09:40:44.643-04:002010-05-25T09:40:44.643-04:00We are trying to reach the parents, but to be hone...We are trying to reach the parents, but to be honest, we are having only mixed success. What is surprising is that a number of grandparents are coming because of their teen's involvment in our church. Our worship service is definately not designed to attract grandparents, but they come because they see their grandchildren being transformed by Christ. This might be something for churches with primarily older congregations to discuss. Do they want their grandchildren to come to know Christ, and if so, what needs to be done to make that happen.Dr. Terry Dorsetthttp://www.vermontbaptist.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-41129931705900781932010-05-24T23:00:36.883-04:002010-05-24T23:00:36.883-04:00Mr. Dorsett, When you "evangelize the youth&q...Mr. Dorsett, When you "evangelize the youth", Do you evangelize the parents as well?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-44865623526133325802010-05-24T12:42:08.613-04:002010-05-24T12:42:08.613-04:00I like this.I like this.Angela Kelleyhttp://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=100000699349081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2134143779763240356.post-47056505649023342052010-05-24T11:01:23.839-04:002010-05-24T11:01:23.839-04:00Yes, yes, and amen.
Building relationships aroun...Yes, yes, and amen. <br /><br />Building relationships around food and fellowship is a big part of the African community and yielded big dividends. I see it as an essential element/strategy for anyone in church leadership. It is a relaxing atmosphere that builds trust and provides an opportunity to show that what you say is what you really believe. The more relaxed, informal and messy the food, the better the situation. You don’t really know a person until you can see how they eat a piece of generously saucy barbecue chicken.<br /><br />I am predicting that you will soon be publishing a book compiling all this wisdom … Let me be among the first to place an order. The internet is good, but having all this insight in one volume would be useful.Allen Burns, former missionary to South Africanoreply@blogger.com