The Ohio Independent Baptist, January 1972

' by Mike Hooks It was 7: 30 a.m. Breakfast was over and 80 teenagers went home to bed - The only thing to do after staying up all night! The youth group had just finished a supersocial with films, sports, food, and even preach- ing· but best of all, at least two of the guests became Christians before leaving. All of this did not just hap– pen but was part of a well planned program. In planning for a year of youth ac– tivities, a vital question might be, "What is our purpose?" - entertain– ment? . . . give the kids something to do? . . . Just have a youth group? Some seem to operate on these pre– mises, but is there not a greater mo– tive behind our efforts? It is good to spell out the direction of our programs. As a New Testament church, salvation is always the prime goal, but development in two other areas is also important. Spiritual growth is encouraged by exposure to and participation in Christian service. The development of social relation– ships (boy/girl and teen/ adult) is also a legitimate and necessary goal of the -youth porgram. Getting a program "in gear" de– mands leadership. "Everything rises and falls on leadership" is certainly true in the youth department. This leadership ought not to be only adult or only teen but rather a combination of the two. High schools have stu– dent councils that operate success– fully when properly guided. This same principle of operation can work in the local church. When teens have a real voice in their program, they become more active. This, plus the stability of adult leadership and initiative, is always a factor in the program. One of our most successful and appeal– •ng activities began as a suggestion from a teen. A key secret in leader hip anywhere is delegation. Got a job to be done (decoration , clean-up, publicity, music, etc.)? Assign the responsibility to the teen . Be ready to demonstrate how to do the Job and then turn them loose and expect them to do it . As a result , they wil l be involved and you will be THI: OHIO INDEPENDENT BAPTIST free to care for other matters; How– ever, they must realize they are ac– countable to you for their responsi– bilities. Other operational decisions in plan– ning activities are where to go and who will prepare the food . "Just ask me, I'll help," many parents say, but a local industry has a good motto here - ' 'Get it in writing!" If parents know when and what is expected of them, they will be much more eager to help. A sign-up sheet for volunteers passed through an adult class will us– ually take care of adult help for six months. (Smiths-October, Jones-No– vember, Browns-December, etc.) Then a simple explanation a few weeks prior to the activity and that part is "in gear''. "But what's there to do?'' The sky is the limit - along with three other things : ( 1) Finance ("we can't af– ford to go to Niagara Falls for a banquet.") (2) Bible principles ( in– cluding submission to church leaders.) (3) Your own imagination (which is the main limiting factor in most youth programs). Aside from regular church services and a weekly youth meeting, a normal month at one local church offers a junior high and a senior high party, an area youth rally, services at two rest homes , a Sunday evening youth service in which teens participate ( pi– anist, organist, specials, announce– ments, ushering, testimonies, etc.), and a post-service fellowship called "Des– tination Unknown." Another active youth group operates what they call the "5th quarter" every Friday night for fellowship and for introducing new teens to the youth department. These activities form the backbone of the program. Certain highlights stand out during the year . Just prior to the Fa11 evangel – istic campaign a very pecial activity called an "Overnighter" wa held . Ba ically, it was a impl e all-night party. The local YM A faciliti es were rented , a progran1 ,vas pl anned (film , ports, 2 a.m. snack and breakf a. t ). and a speaker wa invited to speak at midnight and ju t aft er breakfa t. \~h at m ad e it great wa the adn1i - s1on - $ 1 plus an ,, nst1ve<l /1 ie,1,/! T he evangelist had two opportuni ties be– fore the crusade to preach to our teens and their lost friends. Winter is camping time too. The Chri stmas vacation is a great time to be away and not have to miss classes. Finalize your campaign pl ans two to three months prior to the date. Build enthusiasm, plan many activities, and then have plenty to offer spiritually when they get to camp. Spring is a good time to expose teens to Christian college campuses. Vi it the classes, meet the students, and learn what courses our schools offer. We have three Regular Baptist ColJeges within one day's driving of nearly a11 the Ohio churches . Have your teens been there? Spring also be– ing the State Youth Rally, and the highlight of socials - The Graduation Banquet. For this one, pull all the stop . Make it BIG! How about a coat cruise or a day on an island. Or why not a trip to Niagara? (Don' t bi tc off more than you can chew, but go ahead and dream! ) In the summer, of course, there is camp. Do not forget to plan for it in the winter! But have you considered training teens as staff members for Vacation Bible School or conducting a Vacation Bible School , for some mission church in neighboring com– m uni ties or State? Or how about the teens holding 5-day Bible Clubs in new housing districts of your town? Ho\v about holding Sunday School in a local camping site? Could your teens canvass the town this summer? Now, here are some ideas that might help for monthly socials: hay rides, sleigh rides, Halloween Scare-Ins caroling ( accompanied by accordions, tru111pets, trombones, etc. ), ice skating ( rink or outdoors ), Valentine party or banquet, Fly-A-Kite, Easter sunrise breakfast, camp work day (construc– tive and fun) , Hawaiian Lt1au, trips to state parks and amusemnt parks, mus– eums (Wright-Patterson, Ford, etc. ), rent-a-gym, tour a cavern , pizza party, Spaghetti Spl a h or Chilly Dill y ( boy do the cooking ) Scavenger Safari ( start everyone with a penny, then go hou e to house trading to see ,vho comes out with the biggest trade ) Capture the F lag in the Wood ) , bowling, Putt-Putt Golf and other respectable con1n1ercial amu ements. There are many more activities, bu t \.\'e n1t1 t remember that the youth or– ganiza ti on' central purpo e is not to entertain but to build better Christian teen and to draw the tin aved youth to hri t. hristianity can be fun but that i not 1t greate t goal . Let ta. poi nt ot1 r yot1th to hrt t, to Hi crvi e\ a nd to the fellow hip of the ~a1 ntc;. JANUARY, 1972 9