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MISSION

To translate the everlasting truths of God into a language that today’s young people can absorb into their own lives.

FUNGUS

  1. RELEVANT TO YOUTH ISSUES

“The times they are a-changin” Bob Dylan

Things are not the same as they used to be when our parents were young people. 20th century philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein captured the age’s conclusion when he wrote, “We feel that even when all possible scientific questions have been answered, the problems of life remain completely untouched”. Today’s youth are concerned by the questions of life. However, in their pursuit of life, they have focused on two self-made gods: a focus on fun, & a focus on ourselves.

#1 is FUN: Lives for pleasure

Our search for excitement and pleasure is evidenced by the rise in extreme sports, increase in all areas of entertainment from games through to music and video. Quotes include:

“Enjoy life”

“If it feels this good, how can it be wrong?”

“Lovin’ it”

#2 is US: Focus on ourselves

We are now taught to respect each other other’s opinions and rights. Each person believes they are entitled to their own world view, and the quest to self actualization results in a person “discovering” who they really are. Quote include:

“Do what’s right for you”

“Be true to yourself”

“Just be who you are”

“Be all that you can be”

“I need time/space to be me”

“Our youth group wants  to engage the world where they are, and be relevant to the issues that are currently facing our friends and indeed our very selves”

  1. GOD IN THE CENTRE OF ALL WE DO

However, in reaching them, we must approach our mission with a very different emphasis and focus. We are to be radically different. In our youth group we push aside the so called god’s of this world (FUN and US), and put OUR GOD in the centre.

FUN              G US

Our name is a deliberate act to show that God will be the determining force for all we teach and do. The aim in life, not “being yourself”, but “being more like Christ.”

  1. GOD GETS ALL THE GLORY

If God is a the centre, and not us, then all that we do or achieve must give him the glory. 1 Corinthians 1:28,29:
”God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.”

Instead of a name like “History Makers” or “World Changers”, we choose a name like Fungus. So that when amazing things happen, God gets all the glory. Who else but God, can take a ratbag bunch of people like us, and use us for his kingdom!

  1. SELF – DEPRECIATING

We need to die to ourselves. We decrease so that Chris can INCREASE.

People hate arrogance, or people who hype themselves up when they are full of hot air. I think we do not want a name that says we are all so amazing when we are not. We are better off choosing a position where we are lowly but constantly trying to grow.

We try to say that we are constantly striving to be better, and more like Christ.

  1. CONTROVERSIAL

I think the worst thing we can do if we are going to dramatically affect the world we live in is to blend into the crowd. What use is SALT if it tastes like everything else, and what good is Christian, if he or she is just like every other person in Melbourne.

We want to stand out. We want to be different.

  1. IT WILL GROW ON YOU

Fungus is a name that will improve over time. The reason why I know this is because almost everyone has a negative impression of the name the first time you mention it. It starts off so low that the only way forward is up.