youth group

  • Thread starter Thread starter lil-rush
  • Start date Start date
  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
L

lil-rush

Guest
Since turning 18 and graduating from high school I've started to notice this annoying (to me) trend in churches where there are groups/bible studies for children, teens, and then adults and/or seniors. In between adults and teens seems to be this gray area where anyone under the age of 25 is still considered a youth.

Quite often at the church I am currently attending, the youth pastor, or other leaders of the youth group, try to get my sister and me to join in with the youth activities. They'll invite us to go places with a bunch of 12-17 year olds, as if a 20- and 22 year-old would enjoy hanging out with a group of pre/teens. Aside from the youth ministers, the older members of the church seem to view young adults as teens as well. Some of them won't take us seriously, and will treat us the same way they treat the youth, talking to us as if we are kids.

What bothers me is that everyone seems to think it is okay to treat young adults like we are still teenagers in high school. No one takes into consideration that we are now starting our careers or entering into college (a completely different atmosphere than high school). We are maturing, and have new questions rising up in us about our walk with Christ and such, but instead of treating us like budding adults, we are catered to as if we still need to be pampered and watched over, as if we still need chaperons when we go on a church outing together, etc.

So what is up with this? Why are churches so completely clueless as to how young adults should be treated? And why are so many young adults okay with being treated like a kid? Why is it that it seems like very few young adults are bothered by staying in youth groups when they are no longer a youth?
 
I definetly see this in my church back home, here they definetly try to give college age a chance but I dont usually like those groups. So far the best group I've found is actually through my university called Intervarsity its national and is definetly set up for college students. Maybe if theres one of those around that will help.
 
I think part of the reason is that many churches don't know what to do with this age group is that there are generally so few within this age group actually attending church. Last time I looked into this, the 20-24 age group is the least representated age group out of any other age group in church. There is a huge decline after people turn 20. People then start returning to church in their late 20s. But early 20s seems to be party time.
 
If that's the case, Sharp, it's really unfortunate for us young adults who do attend church. Honestly, I don't think there needs to be a specific "young adults" group, but it seems like older adults don't want to take the time to incorporate us into their studies and just push us off with the teens.
 
lil-rush said:
If that's the case, Sharp, it's really unfortunate for us young adults who do attend church. Honestly, I don't think there needs to be a specific "young adults" group, but it seems like older adults don't want to take the time to incorporate us into their studies and just push us off with the teens.
Click to expand...

I've only ever encountered the problem once, when I was 22. I was the youngest person in the service and all the young adults were at least 27, and people that old tend to be less exciting. So I left.

Maybe check out some church services at college camuses or nearby?
 
Oh, it's not so much that I'm looking for anything new personally. I don't need a special class for young adults or anything. I just don't understand why young adults are generally ignored or treated like teens, or why so many young adults seem to be okay with that. I get what you're saying, though, about churches not being sure what to do with them since there are so few. If that is the case, though, then the elders need to take a look at their Bibles, because the Bible says the elders are supposed to train the younger people. If there are young adults, then the elders in the church should take them under their wings and be a mentor to them. They shouldn't just ignore them.

My mom started a ladies' bible study recently that I go to, so that gives me people to talk to and grow in Christ with.
 
I completely understand that need to have another group for young adults. We at our church created a Sunday School class for them but as soon as it was created they just disappeared. Now the class is once again no more until the need arises again. So I guess I'm trying to say make sure you have a group before a class is made so it doesn't fall through on your church.
 
It's amazing being 26 years old and youth leaders just two years older treat it like Youth Group: Enchanced for our old Young Adult Ministry.
 
lil-rush said:
Since turning 18 and graduating from high school I've started to notice this annoying (to me) trend in churches where there are groups/bible studies for children, teens, and then adults and/or seniors. In between adults and teens seems to be this gray area where anyone under the age of 25 is still considered a youth.

Quite often at the church I am currently attending, the youth pastor, or other leaders of the youth group, try to get my sister and me to join in with the youth activities. They'll invite us to go places with a bunch of 12-17 year olds, as if a 20- and 22 year-old would enjoy hanging out with a group of pre/teens. Aside from the youth ministers, the older members of the church seem to view young adults as teens as well. Some of them won't take us seriously, and will treat us the same way they treat the youth, talking to us as if we are kids.

What bothers me is that everyone seems to think it is okay to treat young adults like we are still teenagers in high school. No one takes into consideration that we are now starting our careers or entering into college (a completely different atmosphere than high school). We are maturing, and have new questions rising up in us about our walk with Christ and such, but instead of treating us like budding adults, we are catered to as if we still need to be pampered and watched over, as if we still need chaperons when we go on a church outing together, etc.

So what is up with this? Why are churches so completely clueless as to how young adults should be treated? And why are so many young adults okay with being treated like a kid? Why is it that it seems like very few young adults are bothered by staying in youth groups when they are no longer a youth?
Click to expand...

I don't know? Have you tried talking to the leadership in your church about your concerned thoughts? What can you do to bring those changes in your church? Pray about it and see what God wants to do?
 
YOUNG MAN who is awesome and my brother! i got something to say to you!

Did you know in the Bible God calls us Children? even the Christian who is 89 years old? God calls him little children? do you know why? because as Christians, we are still babes in the eyes of Christ until we go to heaven, then we are mature. But until then, we are little children.

You want others to respect you, and to treat you like your maturing now. I just want you to know, you can't always have what you want. You can't make others treat you any different than they are. Christ told us if they smack the left, give them them the right! We have no right to say what we want and what we deserve. If you are mature and you know it, then you know it. Don't worry about what anybody else has to say or put on you. You already know what and who you are.

You're a Christian? then you know in you, you accepted Christ. You graduated High school now? then you know where you stand. So why do you care how others treat you? Your job isn't to pay attention how they treat you, your job is to love them no matter where they stand.

So my advice to you, is ignore it, and enjoy it and appreciate with what you have. Because in the end, being treated as a kid, isn't so bad after all. Because all the old heads' all wish they were 15 again. You got something good at your Church, don't confuse it. Especially respect the Spiritual authority God place over you. For they watch over your souls. Take care my fellow brother!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back