youth group

[EspritLibre89]

ok I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but....

I want to organize my church's teen youth group (this will be my last year in it). It had started a few years ago but it was always weak and just never really pulled together. Right now it's pretty much nonexistent. But now that we have a good number of teens and I've heard that people are interested in it starting up again, I've been thinking about taking an active part in getting it back together.
Does anyone have any ideas about what to include in organization? Any advice on this subject would be helpful

 

[Greg the byzantine]

PILGRIMAGE. Seriously as an Orthodox Teen I would love to go to a monastery or a Shrine Church on a pilgrimage with other people. Unfortunatlely none of the local churches have a substantial Youth group neither GOYA, SOYO or Other

 

[eoe]

What part of the world are you in? Is the Diakonia center or Antiocian village within a reasonable distance? The Shrine of St. Photios?

How about a service program? Contact the IOCC and find out what is going on in your area. Feed the naked and clothe the hungry.

 

[EspritLibre89]

We have an annual youth retreat to the monastary that is about an hour away from our church, which works out really well.

But I was thinking more on terms of weekly/every other week meetings, something more regular to keep us better connected.

Of course community service projects would be great to get involved with as a group, I'll have to look into what's around locally...

 

[choirfiend]

Talk to your priest to see if he is willing to lead bible study. Talk to hte ppl at ocf.net for more ideas on fellowship groups, b/c they're pretty good at it

Pray together, play together, and work together, and it will be a success no matter what you do.

 

[EspritLibre89]

ok I'll check the ocf website

thanks

 

[Lotar]

My experience is that while Bible studies, pilgrimages, volunteer work, ect. is all good, if you want people to get involved, it needs to be fun.

90% of the time the group should be focused on doing fun things or just hanging out together. Build a bond so that the group becomes close, then you can move on to the more meaningfull stuff and have active participation.

Also, make sure to have a second in charge to take your place next year.

 

[NyssaTheHobbit]

After some things I've read on Orthodox forums (that the Early Church did not have youth groups but teenagers willing to die for Christ etc.), I wondered if the Orthodox had youth groups. What are they usually like?