Youth Groups at small churches

roflol my youth group went there

 

The problem is, as I'm sure you're aware, there's almost nothing you can do to keep interest in such a huge age range. I've preached in youth services several times, and it's hard enough to reach kids from junior high through high school. There's an enormous difference in maturity and comprehension ability from 13 to 18, let alone interests. From 9 to 18 is got to be near impossible.

The good news is that high schoolers should be able to at least follow along in the adult services, even if their interest level isn't the highest. If it were me, I'd focus on the younger kids (maybe 4th through 7th or 8th grade) for the time being and try to find another person/team to take jr. high and high school.

If you don't mind me asking, what's your total (for the church) weekly attendance running? Are there a lot of young families?

 

What about have the older ones mentoring the younger ones. In that you meet with the older ones earlier on that Sunday and prepare them and have them help teach in small groups or if there isn’t enough to divide up, then just help teach in general. Get them to do small skits and help lead the music. You will be teaching both without the older ones really realizing it. I used to do something similar when I was in Jr. High. There was a group of us that would help with the children’s church and do skits and songs with them, help them learn Bible verses etc.

 

With that small of a group and that large of an age range is tough. The older kids aren't going to want the younger ones around for the most part. It limits the activities you can plan.

Are there any other local small churches where you could combine your groups for activities and allow you break up the age ranges a little better? This was the one thing we used to do when I went to a smaller church years ago.

 

earn an IPOD for attending church youth group?

THANKS for all the recommendations, but I don't think anyone replied concerning the "earned points" system & ipod deal mentioned. see quote above from me that I re-printed. any comments on that type of strategy?

BTW, my next reaction has been to call a mtg. of the youth committee / parents to evaluate our current status and the future of the group. good idea??

 

I didn't post earlier, but I do have a few thoughts for you, as the dad of four kids, ages 16, 14, 11 and 10:

-The principle of having goals the kids are working toward is a good one, but I don't think I can get on board with having the goal be an iPod or some other material prize. And a points system seems a little far-fetched. But content and activities that have some worthwhile goal in mind (an ongoing service project, participating in the larger life of the church in some significant way, etc.) can help build interest and keep kids coming back. My kids' youth group doesn't actually work this way as much as it could, but it's a strong motivator in my son's scout troop. They're always working toward something, both individually and together.

-You need the support of both kids and parents. The best way to find out what they need and would get behind is to ask and do a lot of listening (your planned meeting sounds like a good start). Find the overlap between their two perspectives and start small. You don't need a big, flashy program to generate excitement. Find ways to piggyback times with your handful of committed kids onto other things that are already going on: school sports, larger whole-church events, community projects. Hang out with them individually or in pairs, as appropriate, to find out where they are in life. Go to where they are and build from there.

-There is no law that says your church has to have a "youth program" in the traditional sense. If you don't have "critical mass" numbers, or if your age range is too broad, try to fold the kid/youth interests into broader events wherever/whenever you can, and continue to be available to the individual kids as much as possible. The relationships are what's primary. The activities or the nature of the group is just a vehicle. If the vehicle you've been driving isn't getting you there, try a different one.

-If you're not already, try to network with other local youth leaders/teachers/school counselors for ideas and opportunities.

-Pray (kinda goes without saying, but I know it's something I forget too often).

Just a few thoughts, FWIW. Hope you see some encouraging things develop.

 

Werd.

 

Way too often people get too caught up in numbers when doing this type of ministry. Its as if counting heads is a measure of success. Find fun things to do with those the Lord has sent you. If you can lead even one soul to Christ thats huge.

Maybe you can search out other small churchs that may be having similar problems and do some activities together. We used to do that a lot when I was growing up. Some of the churches were in other cities and involved sleep overs at the church,

 

Mine too. They really made it good after Hugo wiped it out and the rebuilt it.

 

I do recall how different it looked.