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I found this helpful to confirm and spur me on in my struggles related to the challenge of youth ministry
The X Factor
What have we learned from the rise, decline, and renewal of "Gen-X" ministries?
Collin Hansen
Monday, August 24, 2009
When the willows sway in South Barrington, the evangelical world notices. So Willow Creek Community Church provoked headlines in 2006 when leaders said they would end Axis as everyone knew it. As recently as 2001, about 2,000 young adults had gathered on Saturday nights for alternative music and relevant teaching. But before temporarily closing in 2006, Axis attracted fewer than 400 twenty-somethings. How could a trend-setting ministry decline so severely in just five years?
Due in no small part to Willow's example, ministry leaders across the country once viewed separate, age-targeted services as the key to reaching a generation largely absent from the churches built by their Boomer parents. Little more than 10 years after Willow launched Axis in 1996, many of these once-prosperous twenty-something ministries have folded, spun off, or morphed. Leaders from these ministries have learned differing lessons from the experiment. Some are now advocating new messages for reaching the emerging generation. Others have changed their ministry's structure. Still more want better biblical preaching and radical discipleship. All have been provoked to think deeply about the nature and implications of the gospel and have seen their ministries leave lasting effects on the larger church.
Click here for the article.
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Thanks Sivin for highlighting this site.
15Malaysia is a short film project. It consists of 15 short films made by 15 Malaysian filmmakers. These films not only deal with socio-political issues in Malaysia, they also feature some of the best-known faces in the country, including actors, musicians and top political leaders. You may think of them as funky little films made by 15 Malaysian voices for the people of Malaysia.
Some serious, some funny ..
Click here for the site
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I don't think anyone in the Islamic department even considered that this would happen. Kartika's decision is going to haunt them for years! My suspicion (based on past actions) is that they were hoping she would "beg for mercy" and then the authorities would "graciously" extend "compassion" and let her off with a "stern warning". Then they would use this case as a "warning" for all Muslims to behave. and let everyone know how compassionate they are and how wonderful Syariah laws are in Malaysia. Would be great for PR!! But now ... all this is messed up for them. Cane her and they will face a huge backlash from Malaysian Muslims and non Muslims alike as well as the world's media. Back down and not cane her and be laughing stocks. .... Check mate!!
Posted by admin
Wednesday, 26 August 2009 02:38
(Bernama) - Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno remained firm with her decision to accept punishment meted out to her by the Pahang Syariah High Court although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had urged her to appeal against the decision.
The 32-year-old part-time model had been fined RM5,000 and ordered to be given six strokes of rotan on July 20, by the Syariah High Court after she pleaded guilty to drinking beer at a hotel lounge in Cherating last year.
“Kartika should appeal instead of being too quick in seeking punishment. There is still an avenue for her to appeal,” Najib had told reporters after chairing the National Financial Council meeting at the Finance Ministry in Putrajaya today.
Kartika, a mother of two, however, said she would await whatever decision made by the Pahang Religious Department (JAIP) after the department had deferred her punishment due to the fasting month.
“I will wait for their action but JAIP has not contacted me yet. I feel ashamed of myself for showing disrespect to my own religion. I want to respect JAIP's decision and go through the punishment.
“I had sought advice from the Mufti of Perak, Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria and he told me and my family that he will confer with his counterpart in Pahang to see what can be done. He (Mufti) later called the Syariah High Court judge in Pahang to discuss the matter.
“I told everything to the Mufti and cried. He asked me why I did not want to appeal before sentence was passed … but he understood me and I have told him everything,” she told reporters when met at her house here today.
She added that she respected the views of the Prime Minister and was grateful to him for being concerned but added that she would not change her mind on her previous decision to accept the punishment.
“I respect the law and Islam. Even before the sentence was passed in court, I had already made up my mind to accept the punishment and go through the ordeal,” she said.
:):) man, hats off to kartinka. can't wait to see how it all unfolds after ramadan.
ReplyDeleteread the article on twenty-something ministries (although i've officially left it now) and isn't it funny how "the new" sounds very much like the "old," i.e. house churches, community, discipleship? :) and of course, social justice.
the church i go to here is part of the vineyard but the service is in the evening and was started as part of a twenty-something ministry too. apparently it has allowed the church as a whole to grow as its pews get fuller but personally i'm there because i don't have to worry about being late in the mornings. :p it doesn't have as many older ppl but it's range is usually late teens to forties. older ppl prob don't come because they prefer to have their evenings free!!
I am not saying Kartika is thinking the way I have described it ... but yeah, she is one determined lady. I mean, how can any "Muslim" fault her for her stand?
ReplyDeleteAnd YES!! That was what i concluded as well. The "new" approach is really what has been done for generations ... though social justice has arguably not been that prominent on the church agenda until now.