...but might this be taking things a bit too far?
Skate park built in town's abbey
A Wiltshire Abbey has been transformed into a skate park in an attempt to attract more young people into the church.
Malmesbury Abbey is hosting beginners skateboarding lessons amongst its aisles as well as running a youth cafe and hosting live music.
Vicar Neill Archer said it was a "big challenge" for the church to engage with young people.
The two-day event has been organised by Christian Skaters UK.
Mr Archer said: "It is particularly difficult if you are using 19th Century words to talk to 21st Century youngsters," he said.
Well Mr. Archer, there is your problem. Try using 1st century words instead of 19th century words! The question I have, once you get these kids in to skate what are you going to tell them?It is one thing if they are preaching the Gospel, but if they are pulling people in and then feeding some non-threatning, man-pleasing self-help stuff?
The one kid had sage words, he talked about how the church was forbidding and scary. Now it is a skate park. Maybe we could find some middle ground here?
My initial reaction was pretty visceral, but if you follow the link to the article there is a video. Watch that and listen to the guy at the end. Some, certainly not all, of what he said makes some sense.
What do you think?
3 comments:
I watched the video. I thought it was really kind of sad that the 16 year old Christian kid seemed to understand that it probably wouldn't be effective. I'm with you on not being too interested in the building itself--I don't think that's what matters. I'm just of the mind that we are to go into the world, make disciples, and then add them to the church. Not allow church to become a venue of entertainment, so they will come to us. Sure, maybe it's a nice thing to do for the community--give the kids a safe, wholesome place to hang out. And for that reason, maybe I can see where they're coming from. But what good is it to give people a safe place to play and yet allow them to die in their sin?
April,
You said:
"But what good is it to give people a safe place to play and yet allow them to die in their sin?"
Amen sister!
Did anyone see Mama Archer's post today on the seeker sensitive church? It is a video with Mohler and Sproul. http://mamaarcher.com
Bethany
The ideal situation is this.
Invite the young people for a hot homestyle meal (which many of them have no clue about) followed by a gospel message, followed by skating.
I have a dream of possibly having a set meal a week for latch key youth.
They need real family stuff.
They need their bellies fed, and to be shown that someone cares, and is willing to show them how to be men and women, and on top of all that, that Someone else loves them so much, He died for their sins.
Paula
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