Think Orange: Imagine the Impact When Church and Family Collide...

I realize these posts are several years old now but I do want to bring a different side to the conversation and I apologize for rambling. Being a family minister that is using the Orange approach, I can definitely see what Brandt and others are getting at in their comments. The curriculum provided by ReThink is creative and is centered around a monthly "life app" (boy do I miss them being called virtues). It could be seen as shallow and even not Gospel focused. However, the problem with that view is that it disregards the approach Think Orange and its related curriculums are using. All of the Orange material is very intentional in what it is seeking to do. It's goal is not to be the sole and main spiritual teaching that a child receives. It does not cover the whole Bible but instead focuses its energy. It is pretty upfront about all of this and Think Orange goes into detail about why. Think Orange is founded in the thought that we have neutered the spiritual aspect of being a parent by taking control of it as the church and by making it a "Sunday morning" only sort of thing. How many of us grew up in the church but rarely if ever saw a Bible opened at home or a prayer said that wasn't at the dinner table? As a new parent it was amazing to me how foreign the concept of sharing my spiritual life with my child was even though I do if for a living with other people's kids. The ultimate goal of Orange is to change that. Parents will not be empowered and strengthened by the kids curriculum at your church. That is why Orange has to be a church wide endeavor. The preacher, the adult education, the church calendar are all meant to work together. We have to have faith that as we work to strengthen parents, as we build Christ centered relationships with them, that God is working in them. Everything the Orange approach does on a Sunday morning in its curriculums is based on the premise that a parent will use it as a starting point or a steroid shot to what they are already doing at home. It is not the end all be all for discipleship. It is one tool along side real relationships, accountability, adult spiritual education, and much more. So if you take the time to read Think Orange, think bigger, beyond just your ministry to children. Think about how this would change your Sunday morning services, your Sunday school classes for adults, your calendar, etc...

Maybe I'm the odd one out: it looks like I'm the first to not give Joiner's book 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon reviews. Although written well enough to be easily accessible and readable, with many good insights and some inspiring stories, there are other books now available which have deeper theological and Biblical grounding for inviting a transformational understanding of children, youth and family ministry for the 21st century. Joiner mostly uses a traditional, didactic, pedagogic model of youth ministry while citing some creative divergences from traditional archetypes. But, he seems to hesitate in fully partnering with families so that the church's FIRST call is the spiritual development of ADULTS, moms and dads, so that parents have the spiritual maturity, resources and life skills to be the primary faith mentors and companions for their children. For example, his section on "Elevating Community" (p185ff) is written in reference to other significant, committed, adults (beyond parents) that are "used to influence youth" within traditional age-segregated peer group programming in the church. This is a good thing, but Joiner does not take the next step, calling for a cultural-shift model of full, inclusive, intergenerational community, where the WHOLE FAMILY is uplifted, engaged holistically in the life of the church and equipped to be the faith mentors in the home. When Reggie Joiner does write about equipping parents it comes across primarily that the church is the educator for effective parenting versus enabling parents to effectively live in authentic discipleship and embracing children into their daily faithful lives of loving God and others in Christ's name. As I see it, the full power of FAMILY ministry is when the whole church has ownership to include and embrace youth and children in the full life of the congregation; and parents fully engage their lives in living the Christ-life authentically with their children from day to day. In this sense, Reggie Joiner does not talk about an incarnational walk along side youth as Jesus Christ does with us. Adults are called to be the presence of Jesus alongside their children and the youth of the church: loving, honoring, respecting, and caring for them for Christ's sake and not just as a means to make sure they are influenced to have faith some day. An incarnational ministry of adults with children is scriptural and powerful. How about even one reference of the church community being the body of Christ for children and families? Where is one reference of the concept or term "mentor"? Was that an intentional omission? How about referring to service as being faithful to the call of Jesus to love one another as I have loved you, and not referring to service as a something to use for the purpose of producing faith? "Thinking Orange" is a book with creative phrases and gimmicky terms, but I think there is much depth and challenge left out for those who use it as their main reference book for transforming church ministry with children, youth and families. If interested, check out books and cutting edge insights by Andrew Root and Kenda Creasy Dean!

A brilliant book. Said all the things I've been thinking over so much better than I could have ever expressed them. Challenging to the way we approach integrating families into church community life. Highly highly recommend.

Mit viel Humor und eindrücklich geschrieben. Wie kann ich das rot der Liebe der Familie mit dem gelben hellen Licht der Gemeindearbeit zu einen organge zusammen finden lassen, indem beides Hand in Hand arbeitet. Viele neue inspirierende Gedanken für eine kreative Arbiet in den Kirchen aller Denominationen. Sehr innovativ für Gemeindearbeit

The book was great, the only thing that I son,t like they leave the parcels outside most of the time they don't,t even knock at the door,that's my only complaint.

If you looking to reach the youth and change their mindset about God, then dig in !