I can remember that my youth pastor would watch MTV to be in touch with youth culture. That was fifteen years ago. Well, MTV turns 25 tomorrow, and here’s a look at six ways it has helped contribute to an ever-changing youth culture, in my opinion.
Stick it to the man. Like Rock n’ Roll, MTV has always had the attitude of a rebel. They have been on the cutting edge, mocking institutions, and pushing the envelope with things that are not politically correct. MTV moved many issues to the forefront with their programming, including homosexuality and AIDS. MTV has been for the last 25 years filled with controversial issues that question authority, and they have also encouraged young people in that respect.
Short attention span. Quick cuts. Sound bytes. Little teasers. These have always been a part of MTV’s programming and style. Nothing lasts forever, or even much more than a second, in MTV’s world. This has attributed the way we do things. Today, most people, especially the MTV generation, can easily do two or more things at a time much better than trying to do one thing at a time. If something lasts too long, we tune out. Thanks to the splicing and cutting of videos shown on MTV.
Global Pop Culture. Music Television is not just an American brand. It has been exported all over the world, and along with it, there is now a global pop culture that exists in many nations. The branding, music, and idols have all been brought to even the most obscure nations. I remember sitting in a juvenile detention center in Costa Rica, talking in broken Spanglish to a young man about pop music. He knew more than I did about the American artists and English songs, thanks to the globalization of pop culture by MTV. There are now 27 International MTV websites. The channel reaches 400 million viewers in 167 countries, in 22 languages, giving us all our MTV, no matter where we live in the world.
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Each year, countless numbers of youth groups pack their bags and head off into the wild blue yonder for short term missions trips. They may be one week long or more, and they change many young people’s lives, but how can they make an impact on the field long after these students are back in their daily school routine? Having received many short term missions groups as a missionary living on the field, here’s what I’ve learned about trips that have impact on the field after the group has left.
Tie your ministry to a local church or ministry. Local churches and ministries are much more in tune with the culture and spiritual climate of a location, and they know what ministry should be taking place in their area. They also will be there long after you are gone and can assure you that follow up will at least be attempted.
Communicate often with the missionary or leader. Be sure to tell them the strengths and weaknesses of your team so that he or she can adapt the ministry to your collective gifts and maximize your time there. This also allows the leader on the field to recruit the necessary people from the target group to make the trip effective.
Involve nationals as much as possible. The nationals know how to work within their culture, and many times their involvement with a short term group will give them the vision they need to continue the ministry when you are gone. It’s amazing how many times I have heard, “I had never done that before, and I don’t know why.”
Focus on the real big picture and focus on individuals. It’s always nice to go back to your church and tell them big numbers results, but don’t forget the impact that a week of your life can make if you really invest it in another person. It may not be as amazing to go back to church and say, “I had 3 meaningful conversations with two students from the youth group,” but it will last longer than saying 100 people raised their hands in our massive crusade.
Go back. The impact of a group who comes back year after year is much greater than a group who comes and goes. Knowing up front that your church will be returning in the future allows many great things to happen and relationships to be built. It becomes a long-term partnership from the beginning, and it adds accountability to the mission. Many times, I’ve heard nationals say that certain people have made a greater impact because they came back.
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