Monthly column for youth leaders

My wife says that I should write an article about following up on young people after the summer holidays. I can see the sense in the timing, but do we really all need reminding? Given that a lot of people are like me and need the obvious things to be spelt out on a frequent basis, I think yes.

It is always worth remembering that young people's work is really just that - working with young people. It is about individuals, not programmes or events, not our own reputation or following the latest craze. Youth leaders have the job of 'disciple-making' amongst young people. So what are the post-summer priorities?

Is there anybody out there?

Getting young people back into the habit of meeting again can be a big job at this time of year. Long holidays away from things and the sudden pressure that a new school year brings often cause the year to start with a whimper not a bang. Are they really going to be left to wander back to youth group or church by themselves? The enemy will find plenty of temptations to keep them away.

The solution is to make contact. A phone call, a note through the door or dropping by just after school will make sure that the first meeting is firmly on the agenda. Be ready with times and dates, or a term card if it's appropriate. Don't give anyone the excuse of being apparently unaware.

Been anywhere nice?

Lots of the young people may have been away to a Christian camp. What about meeting up to find out what sort of things they have been up to? You may discover that they have an enthusiasm for Christian things that can be built on. You could find out the sorts of things they have been learning in talks and Bible studies to develop in your own meetings. Information like this should help to plan the syllabus for the coming year.

At this point a word of warning is needed. One of the great things about summer camps is the fact that lots of young people are together, so meetings and activities can be tailored to them. Unfortunately this can result in the feeling that church should be like camp and many young people come home with a critical eye and the view of changing church to fit their expectations fed by the camp. No church is perfect, but if you lead any young people's event you must make sure that you don't foster thoughts that will be divisive back at home.

Now the summer's over the young people will need help to channel their enthusiasm for meeting together into positive things. How can you help? Can you follow up camp with some Bible study for individuals or small groups? Can you involve the young people in whole church activities more so that their enthusiasm becomes infectious? Does the youth group need some teaching about church and what that means?

Support your young people

The practicalities of this support work after the summer offer opportunities to branch out and do new things. Where is it that the young people will feel comfortable talking about the things that have been happening? Could you start an after school drop-in? Is some one to one work what is needed? Maybe the youth club needs revamping to include discussion and Bible study. An idea often advocated by this columnist is the inclusion of more food. You could start a regular supper for your young people or meet up for (late!) breakfast.

Do you pray regularly for your young people? Do you pray with them? Now is the opportunity to start. Find a time and place where prayer requests can be shared. Set up a prayer network for sharing and praying mid-week. Pray together. If the group is not used to this then start gently. Use imaginative ideas to avoid any silences. Make sure that the young people know that you are personally praying for them. It is enormously encouraging for them.

Plan together

Young people often complain that the youth meetings are boring, or that there is nothing that their non-Christian friends would find interesting. So involve them in some of the strategy. Left alone the programme would undoubtedly be games and videos all the time. However youth groups are not baby-sitting circles. Planning sessions need parameters. The programme must provide opportunities to hear the gospel. There is a budget that suggests appropriate activities. Events that are too narrow in focus may succeed in attracting a small group but will lack wide appeal.

Planning with the young people around certain ground-rules should produce a programme that they are comfortable inviting friends to. If they have made the choices they can't complain that it is boring. A planning session is a good way of introducing the young people to the idea of setting gospel goals. Lose the post-summertime blues by getting on with the job of disciple making.

Roger Fawcett

© Evangelicals Now - October 2003
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