Monthly column for youth workers

You may have heard of things that exist virtually on the internet, but not in real life. This article is the first in a series that is the opposite. This is a virtual web site that exists on paper but not on the internet. We begin this month with some FAQs, that is, Frequently Asked Questions. However, since we are doing things slightly differently some of these questions are not asked, but should be, frequently.

1. How well do we communicate with the parents of our young people?

This question is all too frequently sidelined but worth thinking through. We must make sure we do communicate with the parents. For non-Christian parents this is a priority so that they do not think their children are off to the church to get into loads of wacky stuff. There are lots of child protection issues and worries parents have that make it imperative that we are crystal clear about what we do and our motives. We must be pro-active in offering information not reactive.

We need to communicate with Christian parents too. As youth leaders we do not and cannot replace Christian parents in the spiritual upbringing of young people. The Bible puts the onus on Christian parents to be responsible for their children, reading the Bible and praying with them and modelling the Christian lifestyle. As youth leaders, full time or otherwise, we are not in loco parentis. But it is important that we see each child as a family member, not just an individual. We can help resource the parents, bringing new material to their attention. We can make sure we teach the same message about the Bible and moral issues.

2. How do we cater for new Christians and older Christians in the same group?

One of the most difficult situations is trying to teach the Bible to a mixed bunch of young people. Those who have been Christians longer need a challenge, others need more of the basics. Understandably we come down to the lowest common denominator. What can we do? Very often we will need the indulgence of the older Christians as we explain things and maybe those claiming to know it all really haven't got to the heart of things. There is never any harm in re-teaching the basics.

If you have the luxury of more than one leader, you can split into groups that study at different levels. Without that luxury you could use the older Christians to help the younger ones in pairs or small groups. Older Christians can be given harder questions or could be asked to explain things aloud. Explaining things to others is a great way of making sure people really understand.

3. How do we cope with some young people attending sporadically and some never missing a week?

This problem will never be solved completely, but how do we teach through a Bible book when the group changes weekly. For the sake of the regulars you cannot spend too much time recapping. You could use booklets or keep folders as a way to furnish every member with every week's material. Again with several leaders the group could split into those who were there the previous week and those that weren't. Try to find out the reasons behind the sporadic attendance and encourage young people to come along more.

4. What does church mean to young people? What do young people mean to the church?

Here is a thorny issue that comes around perennially. Young people see the church as the dull and boring bit, before they get to their own activities. Those in church think that children and young people should still be seen, if they have to be, and not heard. This is an exaggeration, although it is easy to see why churches struggle to make services compatible to all ages. The question of how we are managing to break the age barriers should be on our frequently asked list.

Does your church regularly put on social events where young people, children and the older members of the congregation mix? How about trying a party where the young people provide the entertainment and the older folks cater? One feeling common to teenagers and older people is isolation, a feeling that no one understands or cares, so could you try an 'adoption' scheme in church whereby older members adopt a young person to pray for and get to know? That young person could befriend their 'adopted' older church member and maybe do odd jobs for them.

Ask yourself how long ago it was you last taught your group what the Bible says about church. Perhaps the last time you mentioned church it was an unhelpful comment deepening the gap between your group and the rest of the church. The Bible teaches unity within one body of believers. It is wrong to leave our young people with the idea that church revolves entirely around them. It is also wrong to exile young people from the adult church.

5. When and what did you last pray for your group?

This question should be high up on our frequently asked list and needs no explanation.

Next time: Web page #2: my favourites.

Roger Fawcett

© Evangelicals Now - March 2002
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