How can we as the church reach this generation of youth?

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InspiringThroughChrist

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#1
#1
So I've been working really hard and seeking God a lot lately about creative ways that we as the church can reach this generation of youth (ages 18 and under). I believe in this hour God is interested in the destiny of our youth like never before! If you are in this age bracket what are some things that you believe we as the church can do to reach you and your peers more? I would love to hear your opinions
 
Demi777

Demi777

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#2
Oct 13, 2014
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#2
Music , band, thats things that draws attention. Cake and coffee after service, a lot of energy. Do days of the open door in the evening sometimes or do sermons outside of church aswell (parks and stuff)
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

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#3
Feb 7, 2015
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#3
Don't "entertain", but rather "involve" teens in responsible, meaningful participation in the actual operation of their own youth ministry.
 
mystdancer50

mystdancer50

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#4
Feb 26, 2012
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#4
Establish mentorship in your church. Teens will come if there is music and food and games, but you don't just want them to attend church, you want them to be saved. Mentorship is lost in the church right now, but if one truly mentored and reached out to teens, they would respond to Christ, not just be a body in a crowd for music, food, and dating potential.
 
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Ugly

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#5
#5
I think the church has become too caught up in figuring out gimmicks to draw people in that they have given up on the idea of just being what a church was originally intended to be. My suggestion? Stop trying to figure out how to be cool and start teaching those in the church. Start teaching acceptance and love, and practicing it. Kids don't need gimmicks to be drawn in. Take the kids that are there and give them something more in depth to grow them. Then teach them to be the witnesses and let Their lives be what draws people to the church. Let them grow to be the kind of people that others are drawn to, and this will open the opportunity for the teens to become witnesses. Give them teachings of substance and not just flash in the pan quicky sermons.
I may be 40, but i remember being a teen in the church, as well as in youth leadership for years. While churches that did gimmicks to draw kids in might get me to go to X event for fun, it had no real affect on me. I preferred churches that cared about me and my spiritual and personal life more than i did the churches that were cool. Gimmicks draw indifferent crowds, truth and love and honesty draw people that want to change and grow.
Jesus never once put up an event flyer, yet he managed to change the world just with depth, sincerity, wisdom and love.
 
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InspiringThroughChrist

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#6
#6
Thanks so much for your responses! I agree with allowing them to be more involved in the ministry and having services and outreach OUTSIDE of the four walls of the church. I think they also need to see Jesus not just in word but in DEMONSTRATION! They need to see miracles, signs, and wonders!
 
Fran123

Fran123

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#7
May 21, 2016
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#7
I don't really like being 'allowed' to do things. It's my church as much as yours. I want to be inspired not told what to do.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

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#8
Feb 7, 2015
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#8
Fran123 said:
I don't really like being 'allowed' to do things. It's my church as much as yours. I want to be inspired not told what to do.
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That would be quite unusual here. Have the churches you've attended told you that you were only "allowed" to do certain things?
 
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InspiringThroughChrist

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#9
#9
Yeah if you're in a church that tells you what you're not allowed to do or tries to control you, you're dealing with witchcraft and a jezebel spirit. I believe in respecting the members of your church even if they are young. You all are people just like we are. I think that's the problem. Some times, we don't give the youth a place to voice your opinions and concerns because we consider you too young. That HAS to change!
 
mystdancer50

mystdancer50

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#10
Feb 26, 2012
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InspiringThroughChrist said:
Yeah if you're in a church that tells you what you're not allowed to do or tries to control you, you're dealing with witchcraft and a jezebel spirit. I believe in respecting the members of your church even if they are young. You all are people just like we are. I think that's the problem. Some times, we don't give the youth a place to voice your opinions and concerns because we consider you too young. That HAS to change!
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This is a dangerous assumption and statement to make. Of course the church should tell you what you're allowed to do and not allowed to do. It's called preaching the word of God. Should teens be spending a lot of time alone with each other, just a boy and girl "hanging" out? Should they be sexting? Should they be allowed to watch or listen to things unchecked? Should they be allowed to hang out all alone with a youth leader of the opposite sex? Should they be allowed to smoke, drink, do drugs? To say that telling someone what they're not allowed to do is witchcraft, you are setting the stage for rebellion against church leadership who is put in authority over the body to teach them godly standards.

I think, in truth, you'd have to know what they're telling someone they are not allowed to do. Very rarely is it a control or abusive issue. Most times, it's Biblical standards and that is within the calling of pastors and leaders. To tell someone they aren't allowed to watch tv or play video games or own anime figures or such things as that, well that does touch on the border of "controlling" behavior, yet if one of these things is a trigger or gateway to sin, are they truly in the wrong to tell them not to do them?

Be careful of blanket proclamations like this one. Adults have lived their lives and have made their sinful rebellious choices, so most of the time, it is wisdom when they guide, direct, correct, and restrict, not control or witchcraft. The church has worked very hard to separate adults and youth in today's church. That is one of the reasons mentorship is dead. The schools and churches want youth to believe that adults are out of touch and have no idea. Truth is, we actually know quite a bit and when you add spiritual wisdom and Holy Spirit, well it would behoove youth to respect adults and listen. It would benefit many adults to do so, too, in truth.
 
Demi777

Demi777

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#11
Oct 13, 2014
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#11
Fran123 said:
I don't really like being 'allowed' to do things. It's my church as much as yours. I want to be inspired not told what to do.
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really? I love it in church when I can help and do. Even if its just helping in the kitchen. Maybe I am just weird suspecting-smiley-emoticon.png
 
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Ugly

Guest
#12
#12
Demi777 said:
really? I love it in church when I can help and do. Even if its just helping in the kitchen. Maybe I am just weird View attachment 154159
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She's not saying she doesn't want to help. She's saying she doesn't like the vibe that she is being restricted from helping as she wants.





To Fran
While yes, some churches are controlling, the people in charge are also Authorities. As such, we are told to submit to authority as long as that authority stays within the biblical standards of following God. As such, the authorities in charge do 'allow' people to do things because Someone has to determine what needs to be done and by who.
It's similar in marriage. It's not a man's job in marriage to be controlling and bossy, but as long as he is adhering to the biblical standards for a husband, then the wife is expected to follow his lead. Leadership takes on various forms. Sometimes it is to inspire, but it's also making sure things are getting done by taking charge and organizing.
Unless your church is not giving you choices, but Telling you specifically what you will be doing with no regards for you, then to take issue is more closely related to rebellion and placing a higher sense of self over what needs to be done.
 
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pelicano

Guest
#13
#13
As a Christian youth minister, I try to reach out to unchurched youth where they are...for instance, I go to skate parks and basketball courts. I provide the youth there bottles of water and then tell them about the living water.
 
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InspiringThroughChrist

Guest
#14
#14
When I say tell you what and what you're NOT allowed to do of course I don't mean when it comes to living a holy life pleasing to the Lord! Of course we should minister to our youth based on the word of God and I do believe in accountability and seeking wise counsel from those in authority over us. And yes, the Bible does tell us to submit to authority even when they're evil. I'm not debating that...I believe and abide by the ENTIRE word of God. What I spoke was against when we as a church try to silence our youth or when sometimes as ministers of God we begin to operate out of a religious, controlling spirit in that we begin to focus more on rules and rituals rather than focusing on the unconditional love and grace of God. And yes, maybe I judged the situation TOO SOON and I do apologize for that! God bless ♡
 
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Fran123

Fran123

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#19
May 21, 2016
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#19
I do like helping but adults love rules and the adults at church are at the top end of the bossy scale.
 
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loveandpeace99

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#20
#20
Christ himself will inspire the younger generations to believe, he has done so for me. As I was unsure of God, but now that Christ has inspired me, it has cleared my mind. I am now a firm believer of Christ and his teachings at the age of 16. I love Jesus and everyone, even if they don't follow Christ. When the time comes, they will believe.
 
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