Read the post, Scenario Thinking: Can you see the future? HERE for the context on this scenario and the ones to come…
Scenario # 1 — Deflation
Youth ministries shrink as seniors, then juniors then sophomores begin to opt out.
What will it take to engage high school students in 2014?
one thing that comes to my mind is to find ways to help them (hs students) contribute to the mission of the church at a younger age. rather than seeing them as able to contribute at hs graduation or college entrance, let them serve earlier allowing them to engage at an earlier phase of life.
mark-
good thought. i have always found that when students feel like they are contributing that they definitely seem to engage earlier and longer. what social or educational implications do you think might contribute to hs students disengaging — therefore deflation?
chris
I like the thought of more engagement, but I don’t know if that is realistic. Getting youth and families to engage in church other than Sunday worship and youth activities is getting harder and harder. I think the competition for time is only going to grow by 2014. I think we need to offer more authentic community. Giving teenagers opportunity to be in a consistent group of their peers and one or two adults (no more than 10 people total), where they can share openly and do life together. This will be a slow growth model and endeavor, but I think it will produce healthier believers. In addition, I think church participation will grow if the community of faith is actively involved in this model.
I am not talking about current day trends of small groups; this model needs to be more along the lines of John Wesley’s Band/Class model. Hard, penetrating questions with expectations of discipleship.
damon -
yeah, it may not be realistic given a particular context. however, to clarify, i am not merely suggesting adding more for a student to be a part of — i might suggest, instead, that we reorder the times we already have to allow students to engage by serving. for example, instead of having a sunday morning class or gathering, kill it and call and inspire students to serve somewhere within the faith community. thoughts?
chris
I think that allowing the kids to serve is a great idea! It has been something we have been working on at my church and it seems to get them to feel like the belong more to the community as a whole.
We have them serving more than just the faith community though. We took it beyond our body of believers, and into the community at large. It is a great way for youth to serve their peers that don’t go to church and also to set an example through their actions of love to those around.
I do believe that the biggest issue we will face by 2014 will be the issue of time.. There seems to be more and more stuff that is competing with God now and it keeps growing. This problem not only affects the youth, but the children and families as well. I’m still trying to figure out what to do to combat this…
Right now I’m thinking toward pulling the church comunity into the secular community that is taking the time away. Getting soccer teams and other extra curriculars to turn into teams of “small groups” in which the leader is a representative of the church, of God. And getting the leader to shower the team with God’s love in whatever possible ways.
I am with ya Chris, I don’t think we can add more, and I am not suggesting that either. I like what you are thinking Jason. The problem I have run into over the years with kids serving in the church, and beyond for that matter, is that 1.) we are the only group doing it, 2.) the church takes advantage of the youth, and we are not coming along side. How do we do a better job of intergenerational aspects, and use this as a way to engage students in 2014? I think this is tied to what I said earlier. Jason how do we avoid just being another team, granted a team that is different in our approach and style? Flesh that out some more if you can.
good thoughts damon and jason. jason, i am awaiting you response to damon’s question about avoiding being “just another team”