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Looking After our Young People on the Move
Throughout the years I have come to realise that some of the greatest opportunities for ministry come at the end of each school year and throughout the summer period in to the beginning of the new school year.
Why is this so? Maybe it’s because the pressure of study, assignments & exams are finally over. Maybe it’s because young people are facing decisions about the New Year and what it holds for them. Maybe it’s because young people have more time on their hands during the day to meet, hang out and chat. The Christmas season also brings wonderful opportunities to share the good news about Jesus and to reflect on our relationship with God. Last but not least, the holiday season is a good time for us as Youth Leaders to focus on people (individuals) rather than programmes.
To be honest, this year I was tempted to go in to cruise mode at the end of the year. I have been feeling a bit tired and weary and looking forward to a break. But God ‘rattled my cage’ and challenged me to make the most of the time we have left in 2002. I recently read Hebrews 12 v 1-3 and this inspired me that there are still people to be reached, there is still work to be done and a race to be run!
So here are some ideas for things to do with your young people at the end of the year/beginning of next year;
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give out ‘Survival Kits’ to school leavers who are leaving for University, Polytech, starting work or other reasons (a copy of the ‘survival kit’ we use is enclosed)
end of year Youth Group awards (give every person in your group a certificate & chocolate bar for a specific reason ie, best encourager, most inspirational moment etc)
invite Year 8 students (Form 2’s) along to the last couple of High School Youth Group events for the year (this helps establish connections for young people in transition)
put together information packs for each of your Youth Ministries (Intermediate, High School, Tertiary Student etc) and send them to people who will be new to your group next year
We sent out over 100 info packs to new Tertiary Students last year - to some people before they came to Palmy & we also have them in our church foyer to hand out to visitors during the year
Christmas is a great time for evangelistic endeavours ie,‘kindness campaigns’ around your community (we give away gift packs with a message on them ‘God loves you’), survey people about what they think Christmas is about, end of year Christmas musicals or productions are great (start early with preparation though), beach missions, summer camps or local holiday clubs are great for young people and children
Remember to farewell people well and welcome people well - this helps build christian community (we have a high turnover of people in Palmy and we place great importance on this)
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Brendan O’Hagan has been the Youth Pastor @ St Albans Presbyterian Church in Palmerston North for the past three years. Previous to that I was Youth Pastor @ Tirau Co-Operating Parish for eight years.
St Alban’s School Leaders Survival Kit
As you make your own kit, you might like to add some things which are personal to your church family
Toothpick, Rubber Band, Band Aid, Pencil, Eraser, Chewing Gum, Mints, Lollies, Tea Bag, Bible Reading Notes, Footprints Poem, Survival Strategies, Envelope & Stamp.
Why?
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Toothpick, to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others (Matt7:1)
Rubber Band, to remind you to be flexible; things may not always go the way you want them to (Romans 8:28)
Band Aid, to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone elses (Col. 3:12-14)
Pencil, to remind you to list your blessings
Eraser, to remind you that everyone makes mistakes and it’s ok (Gen. 50:15-21)
Chewing Gum, to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything (Phillipians 4:13)
Mints, to remind you that you are worth a mint (John 3:16-17)
Lollies, to remind you that Jesus is sweet as!
Tea Bag, to remind you to relax daily and go over the list of blessings (1 Thess 5:18)
Bible Reading notes, the Bible is God’s manual for life (Psalm 119:105)
‘Footprints’ poem for personal encouragement – never forget all that God has done for you!
‘Survival Strategies’, an awesome booklet written by our Pastor Rob Yule
Envelope & Stamp, don’t forget to keep in touch!
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Presbytality - It's not Hard
Got young people going to work or study in a new city next year?
One of the times when our young people dip out on God is when they finish school and move to a new place. Finding a new church often gets pushed down the priority list as other things become more exciting. Alternatively, many students find themselves lonely, isolated and overwhelmed. One of the perks of being Christian is that members of the tribe are everywhere. What better way to show our Christian tribal colours than by showing some hospitality to our young people as they leap into a big new chapter in a big new place in their lives.
It's not hard! Presbytality is about connecting young people on the move with youth workers/leaders they can relate to in their new home. It’s about offering young people the oppoturnity to link up with a new church if they want to, but mostly, it’s just about offering hospitality. Linking young people up with a youth worker who will take them out for a coffee and be someone they can catch up with in a new city.
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Fill out the details of your young people on the Presbytality postcard that came with this issue of Fuel
Cut along the middle line, and send the bottom half back to us with a stamp on the front
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We’ll send your young person a pack with stuff about the new place they’re moving to and details of a cool youth worker/leader or church they can hook up with if they want to. If you need more Presbytality cards, drop me an email and I’ll send more out to you.