It as interesting to here what Charlie Alcock said about how the youth group was growing. When he first took over last semester on Sunday mornings there were only 17 kids. Now they run close to just over a hundred. He talked about how he talked to the board at the church about how the youth group is growing. He talked to youth about how impressed with the youth at super bowl party. How they were bringing their friends who didn't know Jesus and how they were witnessing to them.
After Charlie had done this he went on in the lesson. He brought up a senior at IWU whose major is Adolescent Ministry and interviewed him in front of the kids. He asked him questions about his school and how non-christian it was and how this guy came out of the school a strong christian. The point was to inspire or build up the kids confidence in being a christian in their school. I liked the point and I think the kids understood it.
Soon we prayed and everyone was dismissed. I enjoyed that Sunday and look forward to keep going with it.
So questions:
1. do you believe kids grow stronger in their faith by being a public school then those who aren't?
Wow. That’s pretty sweet that the youth group is growing at that intensity. It is quite an encouragement considering all I have been hearing lately is that youth groups are going down the drain. It’s actually pretty weird how it seems that youth groups have begun to be on a four year schedule – that every four years or so, youth groups disappear because the “strong group” of seniors graduate. Maybe the focus is too much on one group throughout these fours years instead of raising up leaders within the younger ones. Anyways, that was kind of a tangent, but I do think it is an important thing to think about before going into youth min….. it is always exciting to hear that youth are witnessing to each other. It is one thing to bring them to an event and invite them into their church family, but it is another big step for them to be comfortable talking about their faith with non-Christians that probably just came for the fun and games. That’s awesome, and the group will continue growing if the kids are an active part of witnessing.
ReplyDeleteI also like that Charlie interviewed someone for his lesson. It gives the kids a chance to hear a real life story, apart from the pastor’s. As for your question – I grew up in a Christian school, where we learned about the bible, went to church every Friday morning, etc. etc. and pretty much felt that my Christianity was being forced upon me. Of course that didn’t help when I got to a public high school and was like a kid in a candy shop – there were all these new and wonderful things that weren’t so wonderful. BUT then I actually became a Christian after starting to go to the youth group that a bunch of the other kids at my HS were going to. A public school creates many more opportunities for people to witness to one another, and also has situations of persecution. So – it may be harder to be at a public school, but, life isn’t supposed to be easy. Someone else may have a different perspective, but that’s where I stand.
Kara