We know the theory. The local church is designed to be a loving community where people of all ages get to know God better. At their best congregations are places where old and young alike spur one another on in their Christian life. But all too often congregational life looks very different with children hidden away in a hall, young people meeting at a completely different time and, other than in families, very little meaningful contact takes place.
At the Bible-centred youthworker conference in January, Dave Thornton gave his 10 top tips for integrating under 18s into the life of the church. And here they are:
1. Give people real opportunities, at the very youngest age, and keep on going even if people don’t step up or they ‘fail’. Serving is a Biblical mandate (1 Cor. 12.7).
2. No more youth and children’s work islands! Don’t let youth and children’s work become an island. Encourage the wider church to be interested in children and young people. Communicate! Excite! Tell stories! Can older people mentor your teenagers? Can young people visit older people? Get older people in to pray for your kids in their groups etc. Always speak well of the wider church. Why would anyone want to be involved in a church service if all they hear is you putting down church services for being boring for children and going on too long?
3. Identify low-level starting points. You’re used to reading at the front or leading a game. They aren’t! It is exciting for them. A university student can pour the drinks for the 7 year olds, but do they have to? A younger person could do it instead.
4. Go broad on opportunities to get children and young people involved in tasks:
a. Finding you great illustrations for talks
b. Packing away sound equipment
c. Buying cakes and drinks for refreshments
d. Welcoming newcomers
e. Designing the publicity
f. Acting in a drama
5. Involve people in the vision, as well as the tasks. Raise the bar. Plant a vision that they want to be part of. Expect them to be involved in making the group become what you want it to become. If you want it to grow, tell them and say they need to step up in evangelism... You want people to welcome newcomers? Then get them to imagine their best friend coming along. How would they want it to be? They become part of the solution!
6. Teach on gifts. How will they work out what their spiritual gifts might be if they don’t know what the possibilities are? Help them identify and develop their gifts.
7. Think, “Can children and young people serve here?” in every area of the church. What about home groups, leaders’ training, Annual General Meeting, services. If you are the Youth or Children’s Leader, you may have to keep pushing this idea so wider staff start thinking like this.
8. Set people up to win! Make it a positive experience. Prepare people well. Involve people with other young people where possible. You want them to do a talk? Split it into 3 and get one on each part. Less pressure and it’s great teamwork!
9. Have regular ‘all-play’ times. “We’ve finished 5 minutes early tonight, and we’re going to clear up this building together in the next five minutes. Go!” Don’t do everything for people or they get too used to it. Make serving just ‘what we do’.
10. Have great expectations, and not just of the keen ones. Do you ever try saying, ‘We’re all going to close our eyes and someone who is not a leader is going to pray for us?'
