An Invitation Into Our Community
CYMT is excited about its newest endeavor, Theology Together. Theology Together educates both teenagers and youth workers as they engage in theological reflection, spiritual practice, vital service, and vocational discernment. The Theology Together process produces reflective action that is embedded in the fabric of youth ministry in all of its contexts. We believe strongly that youth are theologians and belong at the center of challenging, life-changing dialogue around faith, relationships, and life. We place teenagers in the driver seat alongside their youth pastors and leaders, equipping each individual to think differently about youth ministry, to provoke a sense of awe and wonder: a Wow moment.
Theology begins when an experience prompts us to awe and wonder and creates a sense of disorientation. Whether the blinding experience of Saul on the road to Damascus or the experience of a sixth-grader encountering poverty in their own city. When our experiences upend our expectations or normal ways of seeing the world, we find ourselves in a place of awe. It’s not uncommon to name them—around the campfire, at the altar, or in celebration on the last night of a mission trip. To guide a new wave of theological reflections led by youth, we use a 5-step process known as the Wow Theological Method. The steps are:
- WOW! Allow young people to share their Wow story.
- WHY? Lead young people to explain why that moment wow’d them.
- WHAT? Help teens consider what culture would say about that moment.
- GOD? Consider God’s perspective.
- ALIGN. Aligning with God’s perspective.
Are you interested in learning more? We invite you to join our community on social media or visit our website, where you will find resources and suggestions on how to use the Theology Together platform to enhance your church or organization’s youth ministry through the leadership of the youth themselves. We will also host forums and conversations to aid your efforts in building long-lasting youth ministries led by youth.