Youth Group Resuscitation

I was reading this post from ChurchBlast about how their youth group has shrunk significantly since many teens graduated off to college.  Having been incredibly blessed to be able to share life with a youth group that has grown from 7 teens to over 60, then back to a steady 30 (and a core of 25) I figured I would comment with some of what I've learned through reading, from Rob and (mainly) experience.  Here are my thoughts on it all.

Our group began a few years ago with 7 teens and quickly grew to 50. While this wasn't sustained, we have learned a lot from the ebb and flow of the numbers of teens in our group.

For our group the best way to grow has come through strong small groups. Having a core group of 5 teens who care about each-other creates a healthy clique which is willing to welcome others. This environment helps people want to invite their friends as well.

We've coupled that with mission trips and some large fun activities. Having one large, fun and purely secular activity a month, such as a trip to an amusement park, spelunking, hiking, going to a sports event really gets the teens to want to invite friends knowing there is no pressure that the friends they invite must join the group. New teens get to meet others outside their circle of friends at school and figure out if they fit with that group.

Our mission trips (we've used Youthworks for the past 4 years) have also really helped this. Some of the less engaged teens at church have gone on the trips and come back with a whole new outlook toward Christ and each-other.

Another thing we've done to help bring in some new faces has been for a youth leader to simply sit at a central Starbucks that most teens can come to. There's no agenda, just a time to meet the youth leader(s) and chat with friends. While this started with 3 - 5 teens, the weekly meeting grew over 3 to 4 months as people invited more and more friends, or others simply stopped by. While we've only brought maybe 5 or 10 new teens into the "traditional" youth group activities, I and other leaders have made some new connections and really impacted some hurting and lost people.

Another thing we've done is simply to get the leaders into the lives of the teens. going to sporting events at their high school, going to plays they are in (or even helping them get ready for the event, my wife did girls' hair before a play, another mom brought the kids out to Red Robin after each performance), attending science fairs for some teens. Taking youth group outside of the church gets the teens to recognize that you care about them beyond Sunday/Wednesday nights and almost forces them to introduce you to their friends and gives you the chance to be "normal".

One area we have recently begun working on is youth group’s vision and focus. We're working to determine where god is leading our group and what programs we can really focus on, instead of trying to be everything to everyone. Having that written vision, mission and core values for the whole ministry team helps create activities that are so good teens can't help but invite their friends.

The short answer is that we all need to celebrate the teens that have left, but focus our eyes on the unsaved. The teens within the church are incredibly important to youth ministry. They are the links to those unsaved teens at school and they're the ones who will bring in their friends. Focusing bible studies on stewardship and support for their friends (and strangers) in the school gets the teens to recognize the importance they play in a healthy, fun and life changing youth group.

Peace,
+Tom/Bob

posted by Tom at 1:42 PM