Transcript Social Action for Families

Jonathan Kemp
Director, Anglican Youth, Children & Families Ministry
Anglican Church, Southern Queensland
WWW.AYCF.ORG.AU
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What?
Why?
How?
What Now?
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An umbrella heading for:
 Social Service activities (serving others)
▪ E.g. Feeding the hungry
▪ Sheltering the homeless
▪ Comforting the lonely
 Social Justice activities (fighting for others’ rights)
▪ E.g. Raising awareness of issues
▪ Political protest
 Missional activities (bringing Jesus to life for others;
building God’s Kingdom on Earth)
▪ Mission Trips
▪ Service Projects (building schools, etc.)
The Lord’s Prayer:
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“Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as
it is in Heaven.”
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Matthew 5-7
Matthew 25:31-46 (The Sheep and the Goats)
We are God’s hands, feet, etc.
If we don’t, who will? (Ever seen an atheist soup
kitchen?)
 Traditions / denominations
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Research says it’s good for families:
 Most kids who said they did at least an hour of service per week
reported that their parents also did lots of service activities.
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Makes ‘family time’ a priority
Reduces screen time
Builds and serves the community
Allows family members to see each other in a new light
Gives young people opportunity to lead
Stimulus to talk about and teach their values
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“This is lame!”
Not if:
• Young people do actual work, not just observe
• Adults are accepting & don’t criticise
• Kids have important responsibilities
• Have a sense of making a contribution
• Have the freedom to develop their own ideas
• Have opportunity to reflect (debrief)
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Think ‘Safety First!’
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Legalities and policies...
Due diligence...
Risk Assessment...
Age / gender appropriate...
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Blue Cards / Food handling / Cash handling /
safe environment / etc...
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Be clear about expectations and roles
 (rotate the leadership)
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Develop a cooperative atmosphere
 (no-one likes having their work criticised)
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Train families
 (provide the right gear; use expert trainers)
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Create meaningful projects and activities
 (meet genuine needs; use ‘mentor families’)
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Offer options in terms of commitment
 (1-3 hour jobs? A week for those with more time?)
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Debrief the experience
 (have a discussion time; pluses and minuses of
what happened)
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(Let’s try this process out...)
1. Expectations and roles
2. Good atmosphere 
3. Gear
4. Meaningful
5. Options
6. Debrief
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1. Church
2. Local Neighbourhood
3. State / National / Global
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Some local Church projects that families
could be engaged in:
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Service ideas:
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Real v. Realistic – realistic is OK.
Raising funds is a valid outcome
But education about the world is also
important
Think about aligning with an agency (check
its integrity etc)
Then decide which cause feels most
deserving to you
No need to reinvent the wheel: look around
at what other people are doing.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2p5svFJ
9cQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFuLSB73
ciU(Refugee issue)
‘Go Back Where You Came From’ (SBS)
Movies, TV, books... Talk about the issues
(values). How should Christians respond?
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1. Determine greatest need (or your passion).
2. Brainstorm lots of ways to help.
3. Short list to 5 or 6 and look harder.
4. Short list again to 2 or 3 and think about
logistics.
5. Pick one and do it!
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Take existing service activities or mission
trips, and ensure all ages are involved:
 Food pantries and kitchens
 Habitat for Humanity home building
 Urban gardens to grow and distribute food
 Yard work or home repair for homebound seniors
 Leading worship or games at a retirement village
 “Parents’ Night Out” (child-minding) for church or
neighbourhood
Baking bread and taking to shut-ins or new
arrivals
 Making cards and visiting a kids’ hospital,
asking families what you can pray for
 Graffiti / litter cleanup around your church
neighbourhood
 Intergenerational 40-hour famine
 Sending care packs and letters to missionaries
or deployed soldiers
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Could a family be doing it?”
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What could be some reasons for families not
becoming involved in Service projects?
Objection
Response
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imply a particular political party or stance?
A: No.
Tony Campolo
Jim Wallis (shredded
Bible)
Shane Claiborne
www.redletterchristians.org
Tim Costello
Jarrod McKenna
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATrvS0ba2
qQ
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Take a moment to reflect on:
What could you do to start taking Social
Action,
or to
encourage
others to
start?
“They’ll know we are
Christians by our love.”
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Jonathan Kemp
 www.aycf.org.au/get-involved/serving
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Email: [email protected]
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www.faithful-families.blogspot.com.au
(and see the Resource books available...)
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