In the fall of 2001, Andy Lewis, Charles Harrison, Georgia Harrison, and Andy Stoker gathered around a table and dreamed about an alternative model for Youth Ministry that would reflect our shared Wesleyan values as United Methodists.  Through this process, “When Grace is the Chauffer” was born.

Through this model we tried to answer some questions:

If John Wesley was the Youth Minister in any Church we have served, what would he have done differently?

How can we implement into our shared ministries with Youth the latest psychological and sociological research that helps us understand developmental issues and respond appropriately to meet Youth where they are?

How do Youth form their identities?

What happens during conversion?

How do we form community?

What should discipleship and evangelism look like?

Should we re-think how we involve Youth in mission work?

Is Wesleyan theology still viable in the Post-Modern Matrix?

What about the “worship wars” of style versus substance?

 We also wondered out loud together about some other trends we knew about:

Why is the turnover in Youth Ministers so frequent?

Is “big-box” Youth ministry the best way?

Why has entertainment become a dominant model of “ministry” with Youth?

Why are so many United Methodist Churches buying educational resources from non-Wesleyan para-church organizations and/or from non-Wesleyan mega-churches?

Why has the mission “to make disciples” been corrupted by the measurements of membership?

What started out as a conversation about Youth soon turned into a model that involved the entire Church in a Holistic way.  We decided that Youth Ministry must be fully integrated into a Church model that was distinctly Wesleyan. 

Join us on May 3^rd as we begin to address these questions through the direction of Charles Harrison and Andy Stoker.  Mark your calendar!  For more information about the Center for Wesleyan Renewal, www.cfwr.org.