Downsizing

[sharkbait32]

Hi there! My husband and I have been have bee n volunteer leaders in our church's youth group for 4 years now. Recently it was announced that our youth pastor was stepping down and that my husband would be stepping in as the interim. This has been going on for about two and a half months and in that time we've gone from about 45, pretty involved students evenly distributed between middle and high school, to having 25 mostly middle school student who act like they'd rather be anywhere else. We've also gone from 12 volunteers down to us, another couple, and one other.
I've spoken to a few of the high schoolers who used to attend faithfully and their answers range from being too busy with school work to still being upset that things have changed. I was in AP classes in high school and went through 5 youth pastors in 7 years at the same church. I want to empathize with them but its hard to. In addition many of them want to maintain sub-ministries that we had (like the girls bible study and our worship band). I don't know how to tell them that its very hard, if not impossible, to maintain those when most of our adults have left and they themselves have shotty commitment levels. Like I can't green-light a worship band when there isnt an adult to organize rehearsals and the musicians haven't attended in three months
For the students we do have it has become very frustrating to deal with and I'm beginning to wonder if that's why some of our volunteers left. We spend more of our energy getting the kids to stay quiet for the message than anything else. Our three leaders in the audience have to keep moving from noisy group to noisy group.
I guess what I'm getting at is has anyone else experienced this and be willing to give some advise? We don't really know what to do since we're temporary. And more than that I'd ask that anyone reading this be praying for us. It looks like it could be this summer before we get a full-time youth pastor in so we may be taking the kids to camp ourselves this year.

 

[Tolworth John]

Recently it was announced that our youth pastor was stepping down and that my husband would be stepping in as the interim.

Do something totaly different. Challenge them, how would they explain Christianity to a nonchristian?
How do they explain suffering or evil?
Ask them for questions they want answers to and seek to answer them or start off by asking them to answer the question.

If they won't sit still and listen put them on the spot to answer the question.
Look at coldcasechristianity and search training not teaching.

Talk to them and ask what do they want to do, involve them in planning activities and topics for bible studies, have regular treat trips that require at least four consecutive attendances with no warnings for disruptive behaviour.

 

[JazzHands]

Hi Sharkbait,

I wish I had something to contribute but I'd be way out of my depth. I AM intrigued though, where do you think the bottleneck resides? Also, do you sense a lack of enthusiasm for any reason and did they elaborate specifically on what they felt had "changed"?

 

[sharkbait32]

Hi Sharkbait,

I wish I had something to contribute but I'd be way out of my depth. I AM intrigued though, where do you think the bottleneck resides? Also, do you sense a lack of enthusiasm for any reason and did they elaborated specifically on what they felt had "changed"?

they wish that the old youth pastor never left. Two girls who were in the band seem enthusiastic about keeping it but they have never committed to practices or performances and haven't been attending at all except once or twice. I just find it hard to rationalize pouring effort and resources into something they want but only half-heartedly participate in.

 

[JazzHands]

they wish that the old youth pastor never left. Two girls who were in the band seem enthusiastic about keeping it but they have never committed to practices or performances and haven't been attending at all except once or twice. I just find it hard to rationalize pouring effort and resources into something they want but only half-heartedly participate in.

It sounds as though the old youth pastor was very much the linchpin of the community, it's a shame that suitable replacements aren't so readily available.

As for the two girls in the band, it seems reminiscent of the passivity of political involvement so prevalent today - like a sort of insipid malaise.

I think you're doing a great job and you're an inspiration to all. I'll pray for you all and for the youth group but I suspect that, like any challenge worthy of undertaking, it's all about endurance. Things will turn around soon, I'm sure of it! God bless you!

 

[maintenance man]

We don't really know what to do since we're temporary. And more than that I'd ask that anyone reading this be praying for us.

First of all, I praise God that you are willing to take on this task! There is nothing more difficult in ministry than trying to engage middle school students. You have my prayers.

I have not done ministry with this age group before but I did run middle school and high school programs for the YMCA off and on over twenty years - so I have some experience with this age group.

As you've pointed out, commitment is a major issue. You can't start a youth band if you're only guessing if anyone will show up. I would think you need to have an adult musician that the kids respect who can run that program and demand commitment.

The other problem you have is some are serious about being at church to worship God and grow closer to Him and a large number are only there because their parents want them there. You need to challenge the committed Christian kids to be leaders and help you to engage the others. You might try picking the most committed kids to be in a discipleship program that focuses on their spiritual growth and at the same time serves as a place to gather ideas about how to engage the other kids.

The kids who are only there because their parents want them there are going to have a very short attention span (I know I don't have to tell you that) so you might try developing a program designed around several short segments - rather than trying to hold their attention for a thirty minute message - somehow divide it into three 10 minute segments.

The most important thing is to set a tone at the beginning of each meeting that clearly establishes why you are there and what is expected of everyone. Don't take that for granted. Tell them directly every single meeting - We are here to worship God and move closer to Him - We need you to focus on that goal for the next 30 minutes - No talking or playing - please give us your complete undivided attention.

I may be offering things you already know or have already tried, but it's the best I can come up with. I truly appreciate the work you are doing and am sincerely praying for your success.

Blessings!

 

[JazzHands]

Outstanding stuff!!! What a very appropriate nickname too!!