Technology to Connect Without Traveling

By: Bill Wong

Why Do We Need Technology

“Catch up with the times” Engage more young people Opening up new opportunities

to do ministry

Why We Need To Engage Young People

24 Million 16-29 years olds in the U.S. are “outsiders to Christianity”, or 40% of this population (from unChristian)

YAYAs are minorities in our parishes (from our Convocation’s Mission Statement Committee Report)

Most of our YAYAs are not aware of the “aging church” phenomenon

Why We Need To Engage Young People (Cont.)

The ministry as a whole need to talk “in their language”.

Current young adults serving in this ministry are doers, not leaders (me included).

Most of our YAYAs are not equipped to serve in this ministry/“Mad Church Disease” of the existing YAYAs serving in our ministry

Why Doers?

Our way to gain acceptance from elders.

Current YAs are paving the path for next generation of YA leaders to follow

Few YAs are serving in this ministry Lack of/Inconsistent/Insufficient

support

Why “Not Equipped”

Neglect from older folks Couldn’t attend EAM/Leadership

Gathering (due to lack of time/schedule conflict)

Existing YAs don’t advocate how important Chinese Ministry is to others

No sense of unity internally in this Convocation

What is Mad Church Disease? (MCD)

Physical and/or mental burnout from doing ministry work

Can lie dormant for months to years Can happen to anyone Internal risk factors- Personality, Personal

History, Health, Our Relationship with God External risk factors- Tools, Lack of

Control, Pressure, Unclear Expectations, Conflicts in Personality/Values, Mismatch, Church Politics, Crushed Dreams

Why MCD is relevant? Support issue

Pressure to do well Unclear Expectations Mismatch (skills/passion) Crushed Dreams Lack of YAs serving in this ministry

Our YAs have to balance between work/school, ministry work, and time for ourselves, which can be difficult.

What Could We Do? Mentor Program For YA Leaders

Why: To prevent/reduce likelihood of MCD happening to YA leaders in our Convocation

How: Podcasts Podcasts = Topics TBD (Objective: To reach

Episcopalians in the U.S.); could collaborate with other convocations and create an EAM podcast.

How to create a podcast Goal: Start a series by General Convention 2012

How: Cyber chat Objective: To educate YAs on how to serve in Chinese

Ministry Goal: Train more young leaders and provide mutual

support

YA Mentor Program Reason:

Mad Church Disease is REAL. Clergies, parents, and YAYAs need to be aware of that.

Solution: Awareness: Get a copy of

Mad Church Disease

YA Mentor Program (cont.) One-on-one “tutoring” (Leaders Redesign)

Utilize a similar idea from an area of OT called LifeStyle Redesign

Goal: Mentors are not only responsible for raising successful leaders, but they need to provide guidance and support as well.

Plan: Each church is responsible for bringing at least one youth or young adult who has not participated in any EAM event before. The convocation is responsible for organizing a mentoring team.

Each youth/young adult is assigned a mentor. The youth/young adult is responsible for communicating with the mentor at least once every three months. Mentors can’t mentor someone from their own parishes.

YA Mentor Program (cont.) Mentors are free to use what they feel are best to

assist the apprentices to be leaders (e.g. books, podcasts, etc.). The objective is to encourage apprentices to explore their strengths and address their weaknesses if applicable.

Mentors and apprentices are responsible for agreeing on how they are going to communicate (e.g. phone call, email, text/video chat)

The Convocation is responsible for the evaluation and reporting process for 2011’s Leadership Gathering.

I would be an OT consultant in this program. I will communicate and provide spiritual and/or mental support for the apprentices if needed.