Youth Services

[payattention]

Silkcity mentioned that his church conducts AY meetings on Sabbath afternoons. I remember when the name of the youth services changed from Missionary Volunteers (MV) to Adventist Youth (AY). These services are still held in the region of the world from which I have come but I have found that not all churches in the US still conduct these youth services. What is the experience of the members of this forum with AY services? Does your church still hold them? What are they like? It may help to say what part of the world or which conference you are posting from.

 

[tall73]

We don't do a lot of them here anymore, except when I attended the spanish church a few times, and they regularly have Sociedad de jovenes meetings. One of the churches that I pastor in the midwest will actually have AY during the regular service once a month or so, where the youth take charge of the service.

 

[Inne]

We don't really do AY in my church 'coz most of the youths are in school and live there, except for summer. But on the other SDA church we have that sometimes, when the youths are there that is!

 

[SassySDA]

Our church, every quarter, turns the services over to the Pathfinders. It's wonderful to watch our youth perform the duties we are used to seeing elders or the pastor do.

It's spiritually fulfilling to everyone involved in that service, and educational for our youth.

We don't have "AY" every Sabbath, but I thought this service might fall into that category.

I'm in Southern Ohio

 

[KayD]

We do AY Services at our church. We also have an AJY (Adventist Junior Youth) Dept., which I direct. The AJY Dept. generally runs from 0-13/14 yrs. It's very challenging working with kids. But then, it's equally challenging working any ministry. I recently heard someone say that to have a successful ministry, then you have to be willing to inconvenience yourself. If that's true, then our ministry will be a HUGE success .

 

[Seraph1m]

We do AY Services at our church. We also have an AJY (Adventist Junior Youth) Dept., which I direct. The AJY Dept. generally runs from 0-13/14 yrs. It's very challenging working with kids. But then, it's equally challenging working any ministry. I recently heard someone say that to have a successful ministry, then you have to be willing to inconvenience yourself. If that's true, then our ministry will be a HUGE success .

AMEN KaD and Welcome

 

[BondGirl]

Back in the day - AY was HOT!

There is no focus in many churches on the youth anymore....

 

[BondGirl]

At least yall are tryin'.... So many churches have given up on the youth - that the youth are beginning to stray.

Back in the day...... the church used to be full of youth. One of my friends commented that when he was in church - at least two pews were full of youth. Now it seems like it's almost 1/2 a pew....

We do AY Services at our church. We also have an AJY (Adventist Junior Youth) Dept., which I direct. The AJY Dept. generally runs from 0-13/14 yrs. It's very challenging working with kids. But then, it's equally challenging working any ministry. I recently heard someone say that to have a successful ministry, then you have to be willing to inconvenience yourself. If that's true, then our ministry will be a HUGE success.

 

[Seraph1m]

At least yall are tryin'.... So many churches have given up on the youth - that the youth are beginning to stray.

Back in the day...... the church used to be full of youth. One of my friends commented that when he was in church - at least two pews were full of youth. Now it seems like it's almost 1/2 a pew....

Our church has an AYS service most weeks and our young people are very active in church. Just last week, I believe, two young men under the age of 13 spoke for youth day. I was out of town in NY for a concert so I did not attend. But there will be tapes of the program available.

Even when we have not been able to have AYS at church our place is big enough to have just about the whole church over. When the winter is rough I recommend we have the families that live nearer each other to have small group programs in the home so our young people can close out the Sabbath with each other and their parents.

 

[BondGirl]

I am saddened to report that a church I recently visited had "Youth" day.... This is a church that is normally packed to the hilt. Approximately 1/2 of the church was missing!!!

Our church has an AYS service most weeks and our young people are very active in church. Just last week, I believe, two young men under the age of 13 spoke for youth day. I was out of town in NY for a concert so I did not attend. But there will be tapes of the program available.

Even when we have not been able to have AYS at church our place is big enough to have just about the whole church over. When the winter is rough I recommend we have the families that live nearer each other to have small group programs in the home so our young people can close out the Sabbath with each other and their parents.

 

[KayD]

Thanks Seraph1m vbmenu_register("postmenu_19689831", true); and BondGirl.


We do have a large youth population at our church (but I guess it largely stems from living in a college community). In times past I would say that the youths generally had a greater voice within my church. Currently, this trend has changed, however.

Contrary to popular beliefs, youths are generally drawn by honesty and integrity. They do not desire a watered down approach to the Gospel, but will trust you to make the Scriptures real and keep it real. From doing AJY I've found that the youths (even at their age) most often already know what's in the BIBLE - they know the stories and the characters. What they are truly seeking is 'why is this story real for YOU? Why does it matter to YOU?' It's more than just telling them Jesus loves you so everything is gonna be okay. It's showing them HOW this statement was made real and evident in your own life.

As I said, it's challenging working with youths, especially when you haven't reached 30 and haven't developed the patience of Job so to speak. But as in all things, the Lord knows the beginning from the end.

I trust that everyone's ministry will be blessed and be a blessing!

 

[Seraph1m]

Thanks Seraph1m vbmenu_register("postmenu_19689831", true); and BondGirl.


We do have a large youth population at our church (but I guess it largely stems from living in a college community). In times past I would say that the youths generally had a greater voice within my church. Currently, this trend has changed, however.

Contrary to popular beliefs, youths are generally drawn by honesty and integrity. They do not desire a watered down approach to the Gospel, but will trust you to make the Scriptures real and keep it real. From doing AJY I've found that the youths (even at their age) most often already know what's in the BIBLE - they know the stories and the characters. What they are truly seeking is 'why is this story real for YOU? Why does it matter to YOU?' It's more than just telling them Jesus loves you so everything is gonna be okay. It's showing them HOW this statement was made real and evident in your own life.

As I said, it's challenging working with youths, especially when you haven't reached 30 and haven't developed the patience of Job so to speak. But as in all things, the Lord knows the beginning from the end.

I trust that everyone's ministry will be blessed and be a blessing!

You are right on target. Young people especially want to know that folks are being real with them, are bein honest and have integrity. Yesterday afternoon, while visiting a church in DC, some of the youth were cutting up out front. I suggested they do something better with their time. One young lady said to me that the boys were "evil". I told her we all are, in our own way, and we all have issues of one sort or another. She was taken aback by my comment and did not make any more comments about the boys.

Anyway, I hope you had a great Sabbath. If you would like some ideas for your AYS program let me know and I will be happy to PM you.

Peace

 

[moicherie]

We have youth service every week, and we have JAYS for the children plus the regular Youth Days and Children Days. I am from London - South England Conference

 

[Megs06]

we have a substantial amount of youth at our church.. at the moment our youth is trying to get the youth the run the youth.. if ya get what i mean.. we dont have AY's at our church anymore.. but we do quiet a bit of other youth events such as car rally's and umbrella runs we're having a the oscars as well.. and the teens also do stuff like recently i was involved in teens to teen outreach where we all organised the thing ourselves with the guidance of one of our pastors. And also every Saturday night we have a programme called Oxygen just to close sabbath and fellowship together...

 

[Megs06]

oh and i think that the church should let Youth run more things as they are the future of the church even the younger members of the church should be more involved in the goings on of the church.... God uses the young to spread the word as they are the risk takers and arent scared of anything.. *i cant quiet remember the quote but that is the jist of it*

 

[Cliff2]

It is a bit sad but there are just about no youth at all in my Church. Our two young kids and another young girl and that is it.

You to more of the established long time members and they say there used to be plenty of young people. They talk of 20 or more that left the Church and have never came back.

We are not at all that much different to other Adventist churches in our conference.

 

[KayD]

You are right on target. Young people especially want to know that folks are being real with them, are bein honest and have integrity. Yesterday afternoon, while visiting a church in DC, some of the youth were cutting up out front. I suggested they do something better with their time. One young lady said to me that the boys were "evil". I told her we all are, in our own way, and we all have issues of one sort or another. She was taken aback by my comment and did not make any more comments about the boys.

Anyway, I hope you had a great Sabbath. If you would like some ideas for your AYS program let me know and I will be happy to PM you.

Peace

Thanks Seraph1m. I won't be doing youth ministries (well not in the same capacity) next year, so I most likely won't be a part of the planning process. But should things change, don't be surprise if I bombard your pm with requests . Thank you so much !

 

[Seraph1m]

Thanks Seraph1m. I won't be doing youth ministries (well not in the same capacity) next year, so I most likely won't be a part of the planning process. But should things change, don't be surprise if I bombard your pm with requests . Thank you so much !

No problem. Just bear in mind one does not have to be an officers or on the "staff", so to speak, to help with a particular church ministry. You can give suggestions on the kinds of programs and activities you think would be a blessing to others through the AYS ministry. Not only that but anybody person can be a member of Sabbath School, AYS and, I believe, Pathfinders as well and not be a member of the church.

 

[KayD]

No problem. Just bear in mind one does not have to be an officers or on the "staff", so to speak, to help with a particular church ministry. You can give suggestions on the kinds of programs and activities you think would be a blessing to others through the AYS ministry. Not only that but anybody person can be a member of Sabbath School, AYS and, I believe, Pathfinders as well and not be a member of the church.

I won't abandon the ministry altogether, I'm just stepping down from the leadership roles for now. I've been praying and thinking about it for so long, and the Lord has not really said otherwise to me. Interestingly enough, I've been actively involved in all the minstries you listed (including the Children's Choir), and held leadership positions in all but one (Sabbath School- though this did not lessen the responsibilities). It's a HUGE committment. Not only do you have to minister to the youths, but you also have to be a minster to your staff, as well as the parents and family members of the youths (when necessary). It becomes increasingly difficult when the church admin. doesn't really support you (until election time comes around and they realize that no one wants the position/s). Because I don't want to become bitter and judgemental re: the church admin. and their role in youth ministries, I think it's best to step back and not be so active for a while. I've told the staff that I will assist (from a distance) in whatever capacity I can. Aside from that, my Fridays, Sabbaths, Sundays, Wednesdays (and any other odd days that the youths meet) are now my own.

I believe that the Lord has taught me a lot this year - lessons that I wouldn't trade for anything. He has made some rough places smooth, and has strengthened my compassion in many areas. I won't break my bond with the children, and I'll definitely keep ministering to the parents, family and friends as the Lord directs me, but active ministry is just not for me in the coming year .

 

[Seraph1m]

I won't abandon the ministry altogether, I'm just stepping down from the leadership roles for now....

I believe that the Lord has taught me a lot this year - lessons that I wouldn't trade for anything. He has made some rough places smooth, and has strengthened my compassion in many areas. I won't break my bond with the children, and I'll definitely keep ministering to the parents, family and friends as the Lord directs me, but active ministry is just not for me in the coming year .

I can appreciate that. I am happy to share info as requested. I also took a break this past year and spent a bit more time in the background then leading out. Burn out is not a good ting at all May the Lord bless you and your church in all that you do in His service.

Peace