Radical Thoughts about Youth Groups!

• December
• 18

8:49 am Chit-chat, Christian living, Evangelism

DISCLAIMER: apologies to any youth leaders out there, I do not mean to offend or criticise with this post. I am sure you are following God and His will for your youth group to the best of your ability. These are just some thoughts I have been having lately, and wanted to express ….

I have often pondered what church youth groups should be like. Should they be a mini-church service with kid-friendly songs and messages? Should they be about serving the community? Or should they just be about giving young people the chance to have some good clean fun?

The youth group I went to was like the first. It worked for me, but could not be further from the mark for my own 15 year old.

I believe all youth groups should have an element of serving the community, to open kids’ eyes to the world around them and the many needs that exist – and how we can all make a difference!

But lately I have been thinking that there is a lot to be said for church youth groups just offering good, clean, fun activities. At work we have been surveying youth about their wants, hopes and needs for our city, and I came across this comment:

“fun youth nights where we do not have to hear about God!”

Can I hear an “Amen”?! It almost feels sacrilegious, but I think I agree! If church youth groups are meeting a need in the community … drug and alcohol free activities for young people … could that be a start instead of the be-all-and-end-all of our evangelistic efforts?

I’ve often heard it said that in third world countries, we need to take care of the people and their material needs before we can offer them the hope we have in Jesus.

So why shouldn’t church youth groups be about meeting this community need? Do we have to bring the “G” word into every youth meeting? Couldn’t it just be about building relationships with young people and their families? Showing them the abundant life we have in Jesus without saying a word (unless they ask)?

And when they see that we are loving and caring people, who have a God who gives us hope and joy, isn’t THAT what should be attracting them to Christ?

Is an outreach really an outreach when we are hitting people over the head with a Bible?

Jesus said that by our LOVE people would know that we are His disciples. There is a time and a place for preaching and evangelism. But is the weekly youth meeting the time to do it? Could it instead be about loving the young people in our community … stirring up a hunger in them, to want what we’ve got?