NNYM Youth Missions Network Shared Values

Introduction

Whenever numerous groups decide to work together on common initiatives, it is important to determine those bedrock values that can be shared by all partners. The following statement was developed to clarify our common values. These “values” are not intended to supercede the statement of values of NNYM, each one of which is also a core value we share. In this statement, we go beyond those to specifically mission-oriented values. The values here are particular applications of the NNYM core values that relate to our mission oriented initiatives.

We Value

1. Focusing on God’s Glory as the Chief Goal
We explain and promote the biblical foundation for God’s global purpose, which is to bring Glory to Himself among all peoples. Bringing glory to God is our first priority, and we desire it to be the first priority of young people. Working to complete the Great Commission is our glory and joy, because it brings glory to our God. We avoid all means of motivating young people which focus on causing guilt or shame, or which are centered in the self-centered desires of man.

2. Embracing the primary role of the local church
We recognize that, after parents, the local church is God’s primary means to bring young people to maturity in Christ and to serve God’s purposes in the world. NNYM, as well as our individual organizations, exist in order to support the central work of the local churches, and not visa-versa. We aim to serve pastors, youth leaders, and parents, stimulating them to value missions and to see the value of their young people having direct missions involvement, whether through our organizations or others.

3. Integrating Missions into a Young person’s Life
We consider missions to be a lifestyle, and in fact the integrating reality of how any believer should live for God. It is part of what it means to be a Christian as opposed to just one segment of the Christian life. We strive to train young people to develop this vision for their life and avoid the “event mentality” of missions that some mission approaches can engender

4. Empowering Youth to Minister in Missions
We believe that young people are not simply potential missionaries-they can minister today, and we promote their active involvement in missions. Our vision is to help young people find their role in God’s global purpose now, and to that end encourage them to participate in the world Christian movement in one way or another. We stimulate them to pray for people groups starting from a young age. We help them discover how their particular gifting best fits the variety of roles required (going, sending, and promoting). Giving them practical experience is a high priority. They can be world changers today.

5. Involving Parents
We regard parental influence as the most important influence of our young people’s lives. We do not intend to replace that influence or to bypass it, but rather to partner together with parents in producing world Christians. They should see us as helpers in their own value that their children be “on mission” from the very beginning.

6. Being Cross-culturally sensitive
We believe that one of the key elements to effective communication of the gospel is the awareness of cultural differences. Just as we desire to be sensitive to all cultures to which we minister, we also desire to train our young people to have that same sensitivity. Beyond that, we recognize that we as leaders cross cultural lines when we minister to the younger generation itself. We must practice the principles that we teach. Since a key prerequisite to short-term ministry is cross-cultural training, we promote and expect such training as central to the development of young people as world Christians.

7. Being Good Stewards of Resources
We have been given resources to use in ministering to churches, leaders, and young people. We consider that a crucial feature of effective materials is their quality. Low quality materials do not inspire. We thus display a spirit of excellence in our communications, hoping this will be a model for young people. On the other hand, we do not go to the other extreme of extravagance, as wise stewards of valuable, God-given resources.

8. Working in Unity with Diverse Branches of the Church
We believe that all believers in Jesus Christ are stronger when they work together, and this is especially true when working toward the completion of the Great Commission. By collaborating together we preserve kingdom resources and model the intention of Jesus that His Church be unified. We do recognize a core set of essentials of the faith that define the limits of our unity, but on non-essentials we allow each other liberty. In all things we desire to love one another and thus fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord.
We respect our differences, but see that our forum is not the place to discuss them. We will leave our perspectives on these on our own particular publications and web sites. That which we promote in common must focus on the essentials, not the particulars.