I attend a small community church - do you have any ideas to help bring in the youth?
We have a youth leader, programs and volunteers(who are willing) to help out --- all that's missing are the kids/teens....now, what?
Our church has babies and toddlers, young married couples, 30-somethings,40-somethings and some folks over 60.
2006-08-20 15:47:23 · 13 answers · asked by jaimestar64cross 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good question! But I would recommend possibly going around in your town and finding out what they want.
In most cases, the best youth pastors get the kids there by their relationship with the kids. They have things to do that interest them, they go to the school and have lunch with them. THey are open to them and just enjoy hanging around with them. That is the first step.
Then they find things that are fun for them to do, and they allow the kids to have time to pray and make the discussions relevant to them.
And most importantly. THEY DO NOT CRITICIZE OR CONDEMN them for making mistakes. If you disapprove of them, they will run very quickly. You don't have to like their mistakes but the attitude and how you deal with those mistakes will lose kids quicker than anything else.
My daughter and her friends left a church because they treated her poorly.
2006-08-20 15:55:46 · answer #1 · answered by Searcher 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Kids won't come without their parents, sorry to say, so I suggest finding some way to attract young, married couples. Distributing flyers about your Church to people who have recently moved into their homes is always a good idea: watch your local paper's housing section. I don' think its really possible to atract just kids, since you can't proselityze at schools. But you could host a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop.
2006-08-20 15:58:38 · answer #2 · answered by chas_see 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So your problem is demographics. I have been in areas with similar problems. We had a lot of apartments in the neighborhood. As soon as kids reached school age, the parents would move into houses. Now I am in a more balanced area and we have plenty of teens.
I think you need programs were teenagers will want to invite their friends who don't go to church. For boys our program centers around scouting. This helps organizing and motivating them. Our young womens program is centered around personal growth and development. Both have combined activities. The kids over 16 have monthly dances. Since our kids have a good reputation, the parents are supportive.
2006-08-20 16:23:00 · answer #3 · answered by Woody 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Free Food always attracts people...It would make me go to church.
2006-08-20 15:53:01 · answer #4 · answered by ask4marie 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it might be too expensive,but you could get a band to perform. the best way is for the kids you already have( if you have any ) to bring people, and then if they are not saved, teach on being saved and offer them a chance. they will probably come back to the church where they accepted christ.
2006-08-20 15:56:01 · answer #5 · answered by Lfeata 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
find out where they are at and go to them... just be there, interact
we have a skatepark in town. we were going to set up a refreshment / snack booth (vandils got there first and skatepark was closed) good news is the basketball court is close by, so we have tournies.
another idea: start up a youth worship team, invite the kids to invite friends
kids love to be involved... good luck & God bless
2006-08-20 15:57:31 · answer #6 · answered by ppunk71 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can tell you what not to do, my dayghter went to a lockdown with a friend before. While there, she was harrassed, told her parents will go to hell, looked down upon. She hasn't put a foot in one since, and went the opposite direction.
2006-08-20 15:56:09 · answer #7 · answered by sabina-2004@sbcglobal.net 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-02-20 07:08:04 · answer #8 · answered by Nathaniel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why do you want to commit such a BIG SIN? Condemning mere toddlers to a life of shackles in dogma and hatred!!! Instead,organize a bonfire and ask everybody to burn their bibles and become humanists. The world will be a better place.
2006-08-20 15:59:41 · answer #9 · answered by noitall 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
do a backround check on all the employees and an interview and make sure none of them are sexual predators.
After that. Tell them fairy tales about a being who just popped into being and made everything in 6 days. and how he was soo judgemental that when his first children disobeyed him , He kicked them and all their decsendents out of the perfect garden. oh and don't for get to brain wash them in to fear of hell.... always an important part of the indocrination.
Save away. and god Bless
2006-08-20 15:55:34 · answer #10 · answered by Tom 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋