The Youth Ministry&Spirituality Project

How good it is to center down!
To sit quietly and see one's self pass by!
The streets of our mind seethe with endless traffic;
Our spirits resound with clashing, with noisy silences,
While something deep within hungers and thirsts for
the still moment and the resting lull.
With full intensity we seek, ere the quiet passes a fresh
sense of order in our living;
A direction, a strong sure purpose that will structure
our confusion and bring meaning to our chaos.

HOWARD THURMAN

A contemplative approach to youth ministry is guided by discernment. Just as Jesus prayed to know and follow God's desire (Lk 22:39ff.), we also seek to discern and respond faithfully to the call of the Holy Spirit in our lives and ministry with youth. We practice and teach the disciplines of individual and group discernment so as to be fully available and responsive to the movement of God's grace in our covenant communities, allowing anxiety-driven youth ministry to become Spirit-led youth ministry. Companions of the Project seek to learn and practice the spiritual disciplines of discernment as the basis for opening, listening and responding to God's call in youth ministry.

Discernment Resources