Jeug-evangelisasie deur die Nederduitse Gereformeedrde Kerk

Abstract

Die roeping van die kerk tot evangelisasie is meteens ook 'n roeping tot die verstaan en uitlewing van sy eie wese, doel en funksie in hierdie wereld. Wanneer die ampte en die gemeente op 'n Bybelse wyse besig is met getroue roepingsvervulling, word die gemeente vir sy diens in hierdie wereld toegerus en uitgestuur. Sodoende word nie alleen die ware gelowiges getrou aan hul roeping toegerus nie, maar word ook die verbondsbreker, die afvallige, vervreemde lidmaat en buitekerklike ge'identifiseer. Die gemeente as tweede subjek (naas God as eerste Subjek) word hiermee tot effektiewe diens toegerus. Aan die antler kant kry die objek van evangelisasie, naamlik die buitekerklike wat nog in die skadu van die verbond leef, 'n naam en adres. Vir sover dit jeugevangelisasie betref, het elke gemeente die roeping om die kerkjeug vir hul diens voor te berei en toe te rus. Deeglike jeugarbeid is in hierdie opsig inderdaad vervreemding-voorkomend. Terselfdertyd is dit ook toerustend en evangelisasie-gerig. Juis om hierdie tweeledige rede is jeugarbeid nooit af te maak deur dit ... aan enkeles of aan verenigings of organisasies oor te laat nie. Jeugarbeid is van soveel belang dat alleen 'n totale gemeente-aanpak daarvan sukses verseker, vervreemding keer en vervreemdes terugwin. Op 'n omvattende, gedifferensieerde wyse kom God in die totale gemeentelike bediening tot die kinders en jongmense deur die prediking, in die erediens, deur die pastoraat, deur die lering (kategese en meer) en deur die diakonia van die georganiseerde diensaksies as wesenlike. deel van die gemeente. In hierdie gemeentelike voorkoming van vervreemding, toerusting en benutting van die kerkjeug in die terugwin van vervreemdes en buitekerklikes, is die volwasse lidmate van die allergrootste belang. Hulle moet s6 leef, op s6 'n wyse met die bediening van die evangelie besig wees dat die kinders en jongmense met entoesiasme met die gemeente wil en gaan identifiseer. Binne 'n gemeenskap van geloof en lief de, waar die onderlinge sorg as normaal en natuurlik (vanselfsprekend) funksioneer, waar die kerklike dissipline en tug, orde, veiligheid en groei bevorder, word die kerkjeug opgebou tot mense wat "behoort" en wat as deel van die dienende liggaam van Christus met die evangelie na die buitekerklike gaan ("reach out"). Vanuit die gemeente moet die potensiaal van die kerkjeug benut word. Dan word elke faset van die normale gemeentelike bediening ryk aan jeugevangelisasiepotensiaal - vanaf die erediens tot by spesifieke projekte wat as deel van die geprogrammeerde jeugwerk aangepak word. Jeugevangelisasie word meer as 'n program, 'n projek, 'n aksie - dit word 'n jeug-tot-jeug-leefwyse. Elke spontane kontak met vervreemdes en buitekerklikes word 'n geleentheid tot vriendskapevangelisasie, diens-evangelisasie of gerigte belangegroep-evangelisasie. Meer nog, die bereiking van die vervreemde en buitekerklike jeug word 'n sleutel tot die gesin. Jeugevangelisasie word gesinsevangelisasie en andersom. Gemeentelike jeugevangelisasie in 'n verskeurde wereld roep ook na die eenheid van die liggaam van Christus in kerk- en ekumeniese verband. Ter wille van die evangelie en die geloofwaardigheid van die kerk as draer van die evangelie, word die gemeente geroep om ook saam met ander die vervreemde en buitekerklike jeug vir Christus en sy kerk te bereik. Vir jeugevangelisasie is 'n lewende kerk noodsaaklik. Waar werklik met jeugevangelisasie ems gemaak word, word die kerk tot 'n lewende kerk vernuwe.The vocation of the Church to evangelism is at once also a vocation to the understanding and realisation of its being, goal and function in this world. When the offices and the congregation engage, in 'n Biblical way, in devoted vocational realisation, the congregation is then equipped and sent forth for its ministry in this world. Thus, not only the true christians, but also the covenant breaker, the unfaithful, the estranged member and the outsider are identified. The congregation as second subject (next to God as first subject) is hereby equipped to effective service. On the other hand, the object of evangelism, namely the outsider who still lives in the shadow of the covenant gets a name and an address. With regard to youth evangelism, every congregation has a calling to prepare and equip its children and young people for their service. Thorough youth ministry will in this case indeed prevent alienation. On the one hand it equips and on the other it is aimed at evangelism itself. It is precisely because of this dual purpose that the youth ministry can never be passed off by leaving it to individuals, societies or organisations. The youth ministry is so important that only a total congregational attempt will ensure success, ward off alienation and win back the estranged. In a comprehensive, differentiated way, God comes by way of the total congregational ministry to the youth (children and young people), through preaching, in worship services, pastoral care, teaching (didache; catechesis, etc) and through the diakonia of the organised "diensaksie'' as an essential part of the congregation. In this congregation prevention of estrangement, equipping and utilisation of the youth of the church and the reclaiming of the alienated and the outsider, the adult member is of the utmost importance. They must live and pursue the Gospel in such a way that the youth (children and young people) enthusiastically want to and eventually will identify with the congregation. Within a community of faith and love where the mutual concern functions normally, naturally (obviously), where the church's discipline furthers order, safety and growth, the youth are edified to become people who belong and who as part of the ministering Body of Christ reach out to the outsider. From within the congregation the potential of the youth must be utilised. Thus every facet of the normal congregational ministry is rich in youth evangelisation potential - from the church's worship service to specific projects that are part of the programmed youth ministry. Youth evangelism then becomes more than a program, more than a project, a campaign - it becomes a youth-to-youth way of living. Every spontaneous contact with the alienated and the outsiders becomes an opportunity for friendship evangelism, service evangelism of directed target-group evangelism. More so, the reaching of the estranged and the outsider youth becomes the key to reaching the family. Youth evangelism becomes family evangelism and vice versa. Congregational youth evangelism in a torn world also cries out for the unity of the body of Christ in church and ecumenical context. For the sake of the gospel and the credibility of the church as exponent of the gospel, the congregation is called, together with other, to reach out to the alienated and the outsiders for the sake of Christ. An active church is necessary for youth evangelism and where youth evangelism actually is sincerely undertaken, it will bring about renewal to the church.