Some youngsters are happy to come on a Friday nite to a mini-church service - others wouldn't be found dead there. Some want social evenings. Some want sports. If you mix all of those in ONE youth program do you end up pleasing all the people or none of them? Is there room for a number of different focuses - ie. different groups attending to different tastes, no "right and wrong" way to do this thing? Alison Papenfus.
This is the same frustration that we experienced as a youth group about eighteen months back. We concluded that it is impossible to present an omnibus type programme that is able to cater for different commitment levels (this is what lies behind the dilemna, the fact that some people are uncommitted, others committed just to attend, some committed to spiritual growth, others committed to ministry within the group). So we developed what we call the Commitment Level Model of Youth Ministry."
We have a different, regular event or ministry aimed at each level of commitment. I believe that we are overcoming the frustrations we experienced previously. We have targeted out Friday night meetings at attracting and evengelising unchurched youth. The regular members know that this event is not targeted at them, but at their non-Christian friends. Their responsibility at the meeting is to make contact with, and develop significant relationships with, newcomers. They have a weekly growth group meeting that is aimed at helping them grow spiritually. We don't even advertise this event on the Friday evening, but personally invite youth who are committed to spiritual growth to attend.
We also have a regular Monday night Volleyball event to which we invite the fringe youth who are not yet involved in our Friday evening evangelistic programming strategy. They may have attended before, but are not yet incorporated into the group. Through this entry-level event we maintain contact with youth who are not ready to commit their lives to Christ, until they are ready to move on. This will happen as they hang around Christians, and as Christians pray that God will open their hearts to His offer of saving grace.
Another comment: how important are first impressions? If a youngster finds the program inadequate (sorry, un-cool) the first time they come what are the chances they will try again next week (when the program may be more to their taste)?
Your comments here stress again the importance of targeting the meetings. We must ensure we consult with youth people regarding the activities that we present, or the way in which we lead the events. They will be able to help us to ensure that we indeed target our programmes accurately. Leaders sometimes tend to plan a programme according to their own tastes and commitment levels and not those of the youth who attend.
Group Magazine (September/October 1996, page 45) presented a list of reasons why newcomers return to a youth group, and a list of why they don't return:
Why Newcomers Return
1. Someone was there to greet me as I got out of the car and they showed me exactly where to go.
2. When I walked in, there was an agenda on the door to let me know what was happening.
3. Right inside the door was a check-in table and somebody to show me around.
4. All the kids were wearing name tags - not just the new people. People called me by my name.
5. It was never boring! We were involved in the lesson; we didn't just watch adults talk for us.
6. Everything was organised and ready before I arrived. Adults were free to spend time with me.
7. There was plenty of game equipment for everyone. It was in good order.
8. People really cared about me. As I left, adults were at the door to say bye and invite me back.
9. Three days afer I visited the group, I got a postcard in the mail inviting me back the next week.
10. Even though I wasn't a member of their church, I got a newsletter in the post the next month.
Why Newcomers Don't Return
1. I'd never been to that church before and it took me 30 minutes to find the youth room.
2. My mom doesn't think I should go back because there were so many kids and so few adults.
3. During the meetings, the leader made me go up front and tell the group lots of stuff about myself.
4. I didn't know what was going on. I got in trouble for not being in the right place at the right time.
5. There must not be much storage in that church because there was a lot of junk in the room.
6. Nobody sat with me at dinner. I felt all alone.
7. The leader called on me during lesson time. I felt stupid.
8. The adults were clueless about what a teenager is up against today.
9. The group was in the middle of a long-term project; I wasn't able to join in.
10. They didn't talk much about God, and that's what I needed.
One final emphasis comes from a seminar presented by John Maxwell: A survey has shown that if contact is made with a visitor within 24 hours of their visit there is an 85% return rate. If contact is made within 72 hours there is a 60% return rate. If contact is made within 7 days there is a 15% return rate.
First impression are essential, as shown by the Group Magazine article, but John Maxwell's emphasis on the importance of following up newcomers with a visit must also be taken seriously!
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