What can we do to get young people to attend church?

Answer 1

Our church started with doing stuff young people like to do outside of church hours....things like organising football games at the local school, having free bbq's in the park, organising a pool party at the swimming pool, hanging out at the school bus stops with free coffee, donuts, etc when the kids got off their bus after school, etc. Anything we could think of to start to develop a relationship with the kids. Then when the relationship had been developed, we'd earned the right with the kids to start telling them about what's important to us and because we'd shown the kids we loved them and respected them, they decided to come along to church and check it out. We started with about 20 young people last year, we're now up to 100 & growing!! Hope it helps. Bless you

Answer 2

I think the best way is to advertise the youth program at churches. If kids/teenagers see that going to church can be a fun way to learn about God, then they will want to go. Right now the majority of younger people see church as a really boring place. Let youth get a band together and lead worship and find a young (and by young I also mean qualified) pastor to lead sermons geared towards teenagers and kids.

Answer 3

Make it more lively. We don't like to sit down and be bored out of our mind. It's far too quiet in church and that's why I don't like going sometimes. Have a good chorus that can get the church goers up and moving. When you praise the Lord it should be with lively song, with people clapping and dancing in their seat. That's the type of church I love to go to. It's fun and you're worshiping God at the same time. Also create some activities outside of church, like a lock-in overnight with games, food, movies and a dance. That will definitely encourage more people to go I think! Hope this helped you! Have a wonderful day and God bless!

Answer 4

They don't need "religion" as much as true spirituality. They need to learn values and the best place for that is the home. Too many parents depend on the schools or a church to teach their kids values and consideration for others. And when the kids hear or learn something that the parents don't like or believe , the parents go off, aiming their ire at the beleagured undrepaid teachers instead of talking things over with the kids. And folks wonder why people don't want to be teachers, Sunday school or otherwise.

Answer 5

Some young people are indecisive and some are afraid of commitment. But on the other hand, I know a lot of young people that go to church. You have to preach the word, by doing so, you are doing your part.... No one can make anyone do anything, it is all in the hands of the Lord :)

Answer 6

Parents need to instill an appreciation for what is experienced/taught in mass in order for youth to be inspired to go to church. Forcing them to go usually has a negative effect, although I wish it would work. If the family is not in it, it is hard for the kid to want to go out of his own initiative.

My community's church has a youth mass on Thursdays (I think) with more "youthful" music. The entire mass is coordinated by kids, and it is held in the afternoon.

Maybe that will help, but kids won't want to attend church until they see that they can receive/gain something from it, and if they don't feel anything then it becomes pointless for them.

Answer 7

As a young Christian, the best ways i've found is first and foremost, there most be people in the Church who know the needs of the people and are able to meet the needs. Also another thing i saw is alot people have left Jesus' blueprint of doing and then teaching, and have taught alot of things that they themselves don't do.

Answer 8

Im 14 and i usually wanted to attend church without people forcing me. Sometimes i didnt, but i knew i had to go, otherwise i would be bothered by my conscience. I think its the way people are brought up, as well as the envirement they are in. My friends and i go to church for a lot of things, but other people our age dont. Half of it is because they think its uncool or something. Usually after they realize coolness doesnt associate with religion theyll go. I dont think forcing them will work, because you cant force them all the time.I think if you show some kind of example it should make them want to go on their own.

Answer 9

Oops, sorry, I thought the question was: "What can we do to get YOU people to attend church?"
And I was going to say: Make it less boring, but then I'm 50 years old, and if I find it boring you can imagine what YOUNG people are thinking!

Answer 10

Who's "we"? Which church?

The short answer is "nothing" - you can't make young people do anything they don't want to do.

The long answer is, make your church the kind of place that young people would want to come to. Which means no middle-class, middle-aged, white, comfortable, suburban hypocrisy; no trendy moves to use insipid and bland imitations of pop music; no charismatic attempts to mould their minds and brainwash them into what YOU want them to believe... Just BE what you believe, and if that makes you shining examples of humanity that naturally attracts other people, well great.

But if the young don't come, then don't beat yourself up about it. Remember - wisdom comes with age, and if you've never experienced what life has to offer, then how will you know there is anything better?