What are some of the reason that might attract youth to youth group. Some of them might be youth that have never stepped foot into a church. Some of them may have attended a church as a child but their parents stopped going and, of course, so did they. Some of them may have had bad experiences at a church (deacons fighting in the parking lot, cursed at by a youth volunteer, felt unwelcomed, etc.).
What sort of things would attract them back? If we passed out a survey in our high schools and middle schools what kind of responses do you think we would get? If we were the ones creating that survey what kinds of things would we suggest might get them back?
I'm going to start a list and would you please add to it. . .perhaps it's from personal experience, from reading research, or perhaps just a guess. . .for what reasons would an un-churched youth might check out youth group?
Here's my start. . .
- If there was free pizza and soda
- If there was a Wii console the youth could play
- If there were games like ping-pong, pool, basketball, etc.
- If my friends came with me
- If the church had real answers to some of my questions about life
- If the truth was being taught
- If the church took fun trips (Universal Studios, Six Flags, camp, paintball, laser tag, etc.)
9 comments:
#4. It's all about relationships. They're not going on a trip or even to eat pizza unless they know someone else who will be there or go with them.
They will come when invited by a friend, actually more likely to come if brought by their friend.
Then once they are there the ping pong, wii, good food, caring adults will help in keeping them involved.
Oh, a giant velcro wall wouldnt' hurt either
The kind that you run and bounce off a spring board onto?
yeah, that would be the velcro wall of which I speak.
When i was in a high school youth group, our policy was alway, friends go free. All of the fun trips, all nighter etc, our friends went free. It was a great way for the unchurched to get connected with out feeling pressured. just an added thought.
Alyson,
good idea. Im toying with the idea of doing a couple of really sweet events and the only way a youth group student can attend is if they bring a lost or unchurched friend.
@ Rick. . .your comment sent me into a week of deep thought. (It was a good thing)
@ Alyson. . .I agree with Andy, good idea.
Good relationships with good adults. Parents and teachers have such defined roles; sometimes a child/teenager needs someone to turn to who will listen and respond as an adult but not as an adult who will judge or punish, if that makes sense.
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