Table Of Content

THE VOLUNTEER YOUTH LEADER AS CULTURAL TRANSLATOR A THESIS-PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY BY JASON R. HOLT MAY 2020 Copyright © 2020 by Jason R. Holt. All Rights Reserved. To Jennifer. The Lord sure knows how to make a sweetheart! CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .....................................................................................................................v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ....................................................................................................... vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................ viii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. ix Chapter 1. THE VOLUNTEER YOUTH LEADER & TODAY’S YOUTH CULTURE ........1 2. CONTENT & CULTURE: A BIBLICAL EXAMINATION ..............................12 3. THE CONSIDERATION OF CULTURE .............................................................54 4. ONE TOOL FOR CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT ................................................85 5. CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................111 Appendix A. ONE TOOL FOR CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT ..............................................123 B. PRE-TOOL SURVEY INSTRUMENT ..............................................................125 C. PRE-TOOL SURVEY RESULTS .......................................................................136 D. POST-TOOL SURVEY INSTRUMENT ............................................................149 E. POST-TOOL SURVEY RESULTS ....................................................................159 F. SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEWS ...............................................................173 G. TOOL WITH ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS ................................................183 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................187 VITA ......................................................................................................................................192 iv TABLES 1. Niebuhr’s Christ and Culture Types ........................................................................59 2. Contextualization Options .......................................................................................65 3. Approaches to Cultural Engagement .......................................................................71 v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This student of youth ministry is grateful for the support of numerous people that made this thesis possible. First among them, the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC) Youth Board endorsed this continuing education effort and funded the degree. This student is grateful for those current and past board members that all encouraged entering and completing the process: Eric Rasmussen, Sharon Rykhus, Nathan Olson, Adam McCarlson, Michele Smith, Jordan Langness, Andrew Benson, Seth Forness, Mark Johnson, and Wade Mobley. In addition, the hard work of colleagues Chris Rasmussen and Liz McCarlson in the AFLC Youth Ministries’ office enabled the flexibility for the studying, surveying, and compiling that brought this thesis to its completion. Thank you for your commitment to Christ, Christ’s Kingdom, and teenagers. The family of a doctoral student encounters both the challenges and celebrations of the program from a firsthand perspective. The dedication page is definitely not sufficient to thank my wife, Jennifer, for the many hours of listening to ideas, encouraging through the low points, and editing through the drafts. Thank you so much! Along those lines, our five children have greatly influenced in a positive way this student as a father and as a person. The Lord sure knows how to give amazing gifts. Caleb, Susanna, Phoebe, Magdalena, and Micah: thank you! My father and mother, Gale and LuAnn Holt, have been lifelong learners and leaders. They have demonstrated the approach of contributors in their local congregation for decades and the attitude of endurance as volunteers. In many ways, they exemplify what this thesis uncovers. Thank you, Dad and Mom! Since both ministry and education involves relationships, this student is very grateful for the contributions and guidance of Dr. Duffy Robbins, Dr. Walt Mueller, and Dr. Adonis Vidu along with the staff of the Doctor of Ministry office at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. vi The entire process was tremendous and the people were even better. In a parallel way, the Ministry to Emerging Generations cohort was a highlight of this program. Thank you to these new treasured friends! This student is deeply indebted to the volunteer and vocational youth leaders that took the time to complete the pre-tool and post-tool surveys. The data gained provided an important snapshot of the thoughts and priorities of today’s youth leaders in the AFLC. In a direct way, this project is intended to serve as a gift of gratitude to the volunteer youth leader. Thank you for serving Jesus and sharing Him with the next generation. vii ABBREVIATIONS AFLC Association of Free Lutheran Congregations D.Min. Doctor of Ministry FLY Free Lutheran Youth viii ABSTRACT The role of a volunteer youth leader is a biblical expression of the priesthood of all believers. This caring, believing adult has a vital voice in the lives of teenagers in a local congregation. Today’s youth culture presents many voices on what a teenager should think, feel, do, and believe. Cultural translation is a significant area for effective youth ministry, which includes the volunteer youth leader building well-designed bridges. The crossroads of content from scripture and the culture of teenagers is the ground that a volunteer youth leader can build a bridge from the world to the Word. ix CHAPTER ONE THE VOLUNTEER YOUTH LEADER & TODAY’S YOUTH CULTURE Introduction On August 1, 2007, Minneapolis area vehicles were moving around the Twin Cities’ interstate system in the typical late afternoon rush hour traffic.1 Bumper to bumper, people inched their way to their destinations on this summer Wednesday evening. Shortly after 6 p.m. Central Daylight Time, those moving across the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis encountered the nightmare of the bridge collapsing. Cars, trucks, and a school bus fell into the river and onto the layers of beams, concrete, and rocks. The destruction took the lives of 13 and injured 145 others.2 Questions arose immediately about the maintenance of our nation’s bridges and on the efforts within the state of Minnesota for necessary repair.3 Cries in the public were raised about the safety of any bridge. If this catastrophe could happen on a bridge connected to such a well- traveled road, then what structure was safe? The tragic irony that emerged in the days that followed was that the Interstate 35W bridge over the Mississippi River that collapsed was being 1. Bill Salisbury and Sophie Carlson, “The Day a Bridge Collapsed in Minneapolis and Lives Changed Forever,” July 29, 2017, https://www.twincities.com/2017/07/29/the-day-a-bridge-collapsed-in-minneapolis-and- lives-changed-forever/, online edition of St. Paul Pioneer Press, accessed June 21, 2019. 2. Salisbury and Carlson, “The Day,” accessed June 21, 2019. 3. David Schaper, “10 Years After Bridge Collapse, America is Still Crumbling,” August 1, 2017, https://www.npr.org/2017/08/01/540669701/10-years-after-bridge-collapse-america-is-still-crumbling, accessed June 21, 2019. 1