jodiemcneill.com » Schools Ministry

Three high school SRE tips

Jodie — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:19:51 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to chat to a friend about his experience with teaching SRE to a high school class.

He shared with me the joys and the challenges of this great ministry, and in turn, I shared with him a few tips that I thought I’d also give to the friendly readers of sydneyanglicans.net

So, click through to my latest article to read my tips, and respond in the comments section if you’d like to add some thoughts.

Here’s the URL: http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/ministry/modernministry/three_high_school_sre_tips/

Are you using questions to communicate?

Jodie — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 08:32:14 +0000

If asking questions is the way that youth (and often adults) learn, then why would we choose to miss out on the benefits of this powerful way of speaking the truth?

Read my thoughts in my latest article at sydneyanglicans.net: http://www.sydneyanglicans.net/ministry/modernministry/are_you_using_questions_to_communicate/

Should Christian kids play soldiers?

Jodie — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:48:20 +0000

Many people like the idea of using laser skirmish to provide a technological ‘upgrade’ to classic wide games such as ‘Capture the Flag’. However, some people have raised concerns at the idea of promoting shooting games in a Christian environment.

I’d consider the idea of creating a purpose-built laser skirmish battlefield at Youthworks Outdoors with the latest simulation weapons for those who might like to take advantage of it, and to offer an alternative activity for groups whose leaders or teachers find this unappealing.

But, would it be grossly unpopular and potentially offensive to the majority? Would you let your school or youth group dress up in camouflage and play war games in the bush? Or would you find the very notion to be antisocial and insensitive?

Read the full article at sydneyanglicans.net and get on board with the comments!

Religious education builds resilience

Jodie — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:01:15 +0000

In school education, ‘resilience’ is the latest buzz-word.

One of the interesting findings of recent research is that spirituality has been shown to be a key factor in helping people build this resilience.

The only way a state school could teach spirituality would be for them to ask the local religious communities to send representatives to teach the children of their respective faiths.

Yet, what I have just described is exactly what our NSW state school system currently enjoys with Special Religious Education (SRE).

SRE brings a smorgasbord of spirituality into our state schools. It is taught for free by skilled and passionate volunteers from the community. It offers the tools needed to help students form resilience in this pressured and chaotic world.

If SRE didn’t exist, we’d invent it. So why would we ever want to lose it?

Read my full article at www.sydneyanglicans.net

Horizon Connections

Jodie — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:33:22 +0000

One of the greatest challenges in youth ministry is making connections – between younger people and older leaders, school students and local churches, and most of all, between believers and unbelievers. Camps are a venue that can achieve all three.

Read more in my monthly article at your.sydneyanglicans.net.