Breaking orders
One of my favourite films is 'A Few Good Men', starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. 'We follow orders, or people die. It's that simple, son', says Jack to Tom at one point. In the end two rank-and-file soldiers realise that some orders need to be broken to protect the weak and innocent.
It's just a story, but it's a good illustration of a problem that many struggle with in their youth work. The problem: I cannot find the way of working that fits my exact situation, what model should I follow that guarantees results? The answer: There is no model that will do that. We have to realise that the models we read about in books are not strict orders to follow, but to break. If you are a youth or children's leader, you have full permission to do things your way.
Let me explain. I am not trying to achieve chaos. Lots of youth leaders ask how to achieve what is being done across town in another church. Permission to do things your way is permission not to feel the need to emulate what someone else is doing. Do what is right for your church.
