What can be done to gain the interest of you in the church when the average age is 50 + ? We are a number one church with only two to three young adults (22-28) everyone else is 50 and over and the Pastor is a senior himself. It breaks my heart to see other churches flourishing with young people and we have only a handful.Our congregation is about 300. There have been occasion when I have tried to introduce new programs that would attrack youth, but the seniors are not receptive. Help we are losing our young people to non-denominational churches.

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

Answers

Dear Sister Watkins In my Annual conference we had the same problem many years ago. Our Senior Church (Number 1) was filled with seniors but a visionary Bishop sent a young and vibrant preacher to that Church. The adjustment was thought to be impossible but it worked to the glory of God. Now there is a mix and a new pastor. Churches will grow when visionary leaders make prayerful and wise appointments. While it may not seem like much. Encourage the growth of the Church School and grow programs from there. Since there are many Seniors encourage music and other performance programs where Grand children can com and participate. This could be a calling for you my Sister. Be encouraged as I will pray for you and your Church. God Bless You

-- Anonymous, August 08, 2001

HI, MS. WATKINS, I'M NOT A YOUTH, BUT WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM DAILY.... FIRST OF ALL TO GAIN THE YOUTH INTEREST, YOU MUST FIRST SHOW A INTEREST IN THEM...I DON'T CALL THEM THE GENERATION X...BUT THE EXCELLENT GENERATION!!!!FOR EXAMPLE WITH A BIBLE STUDY FOR THE YOUTH OFFER TOPICS THAT CONCERN THEM...EXAMPLE THE POWER OF WORDS...AND ATTITUDE...BY BACKING IT UP WITH SCRIPTURE...FROM PROVERBS...TEACH HOW TO SPEAK LIFE INSTEAD OF DEATH SOFT ANSWERS GENTLE ANSWERS...YOU WOULD SEE HOW AMAZED THEY BECOME!!!!OFFER A DRAMA CLUB HOW TO DEAL WITH LIFE ISSUES SUCH AS DEALING WITH DRUGS GANGS PREMARITAL SEX...ECT. WHEN THE YOUTH KNOW WHERE THEIR PLACES ARE IN THE CHURCH, THEY DON'T MIND BEING THERE..ALLOW THEM TO TAKE A PART IN THE WORSHIP SERVICES AS A YOUTH TRUSTEE YOUTH STEWARD YOUTH MISSIONARY...ECT.LET THEM LEARN THE REASON WE DO THINGS THIS WAY IN THE AMEC...WHEN YOU KNOW WHERE YOU STAND AND WHY THIS TAKES PLACE, IT'S MUCH EASIER TO DEAL WITH...RIGHT NOW THE YOUTH THINKS THE CHURCH IS ABOUT A BUNCH OF OLD FOLK THAT HAS DONE EVERY THING THEY WANTED TO DO NOW THEY JUST COME IN AND SIT AND COMPLAIN ABOUT ALL THE WRONG THINGS THE YOUTH ARDO NOW THEY JUST COME IN AND SIT ANDE DOING....THE OLD IS TO TEACH THE YOUNG...NOT TO JUST SIT BACK AND TEAR THEM DOWN WITH THE TONGUE...SPEAK LIFE TO THEM DO SOME IN REACHING TO THE YOUTH THAT IN THE CHURCH AND THE YOUTH WILL DO THE OUTREACHING TO THE UNCHURCH YOUTH THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES THAT CAN BE TAUGHT, IF YOU APPLY WITH A GENTLE TONGUE...DANCING THROUGH DRAMA IS ANOTHER WAY TO REACH IN TO THEM...IF YOU WOULD LIKE S

-- Anonymous, August 09, 2001

One must first of all realise that the major stumbling block in our church is the Older Folks afraid of losing their precious positions. Number two far too many of them are concerned about the youth but absolutely nothing is being done to assist (eg how many will offer their vehicles to assist with transport in getting young people to and from their meeting place FREE OF CHARGE ? .. the church must forever dip into the kitty to compensate anybody using his vehicle.

Number Three: You cannot have a fellowship simply because the disciple has structred such an organisation!!! There must be a need ( which I am sure there is ) and then basic concerns be drawn up ... why have an orgnisation for young people in your area ( a sample of our conerns in the Mitchells Plain area may be viewed on my site conerning youth programs

Number Four: What is the church investing in our young people? Has the conference a youthdesk / youth pastor specifically attending to these needs ?

I have found Secular Man by Harvey Cox a very, very refreshing eye opener regarding youth.

Love

Clive

-- Anonymous, August 09, 2001