Here are some collected thoughts from The Deep and Wide Q&A Session at SYMC 2010
- We should be doing evangelism and discipleship – its not either/or, but both/and…
- Deep and Wide Ministry is not a new idea or program, but a refocusing of a very old ones found in Matthew 28:19, Matthew 22:37-39, and Col. 1:28-29
- The big question is: ” Are you making disciples that are making disciples?”
- Deep and Wide is one directive that has two directions
- Are you a Coach or a Quarterback? – In youth ministry, we should be a coach, preparing and motivating students to get on the field and in the game
- If we focus on deep in youth ministry: the ministry can become a mile deep but an inch wide, self focused, and knowledgeable about scripture but nowhere to go with it
- If we focus on wide in ministry: we get a mile wide, but an inch deep, very shallow meetings, we get students into the room, and then what?
- The reason to have students in all maturity levels sharing Christ – It fuels the fire, and besides – who knows more lost kids, an unchurched baby Christian or a “church kid” who has been saved a long time?
- Deep and Wide is not a “plug and play program” it is designed to be overlaid and made to fit wherever you serve.
What does Deep and Wide look like in Practice?
(Here is my [Brent Lacy- FBC Rockville] adaptation…Link)
Tim Schmoyer:
1. Prayer
2. Share the gospel at every meeting
- you never know the spiritual condition of every attender
- it reinforces the message to the saved teens and helps them learn to share
3. pointed questions – who has had an opportunity to share Christ this week? who took the opportunity?
4. outreach campaigns vs outreach events (time sensitive)
5. Backing up what you are teaching in practice – Get out of the Christian Bubble! It is OK to show failure.
6. Evaluate not end result, but progress
Other thoughts:
Brian Ford – we need to look from the perspective of not cliques, but tribes.
Jason Lamb – we need to balance Relational/Relentless Evangelism styles
- maintaining relationship and not giving up hope
- Jesus changed the world with the 12, not the 5000 that were fed.
Brent Lacy – We must maintain intensity and work. A brand new field just plowed from weeds will not yield a large harvest the first year. you have to maintain intensity by watering, fertilizing, getting rid of the weeds, and replanting if necessary to pursue the end goal of a large harvest!
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