Reaching the troubled youth

[paul]

Recentaly McDanger posted a thread concerning remarks about the youth. With the various responses it got me thinking and I will ask the following question.

What type of progrqams does your local church have that specifically reaches out to the youth, especially the troubled, outside the immediate church family?

[paul]

WOW!!!!!!

your answers to my queston came through load and clear. And cetinally told me what all is being done to reach the troubled youth outside the church family.

Amazing

[RamboPreacher]

Recentaly McDanger posted a thread concerning remarks about the youth. With the various responses it got me thinking and I will ask the following question.

What type of progrqams does your local church have that specifically reaches out to the youth, especially the troubled, outside the immediate church family?

Our youth reach out in events themselves, as lead by our youth director. This evening, as example, they went out "witnessing". They do this in various levels, from gathering the children and youth in the neighborhood and just fellowshipping and playing games in the lawn to going out to streets and malls and witnessing Christ. Nothing formal and not really a program. is that what you are looking for?

[MrDanger]

Recentaly McDanger posted a thread

I was just wondering if I had been super sized?

You will excuse me if I don't sit around all weekend to see what questions are asked just to answer.

I am new to the church I am now youth pastor. I am evaluating their program to find out what is in place and what was working and what wasn't.

I can tell you what I have been doing in the community before becoming youth pastor of this church. The biggest outreach I have done (other than my work daily in the school) is an event once a year we call 1Night. I describe it as a lock-in on crack. We cater to the kids that would not usually set foot in a church building. Testimonies are still coming in from youth leaders in our area about the impact that night in March has had on kids lives. Every testimony has been about a kid that did not attend church before that night.

I also have been partnered and advised a group called Extreme Outreach in that area. They do concerts and other form of events in the center of town to draw kids in.

We are in the planning stages now of an off shoot event of 1Night to equip and inspire youth leaders, volunteers, parents, and pastors in what is going on in today's youth. Unfortunately, too many youth leaders I have talked to over the last few years are shocked at what they are finding out is going on in their youth's lives. They are delusional at best. They are good at pumping up church kids, but have no clue how to deal with the real issues and/or reach kids going through extreme situations (cutting, sexual abuse, physical abuse, etc.)

[turbotim]

I have seen two youth get saved in my classroom this year since I have been teaching here.

I have students who include many troubled teenagers. It has been awesome to get to know them and form a friendship. Soon the questions came about the Bible then about Jesus and so on and so on. It has been amazing. That has just been me at school being myself for Christ.

As far as the church, we have done things here and there. But to tell you the truth I have really enjoyed talking outside the church about Christ. I have seen more get saved it seems like than those at church.

I know there is more to do and I want to reach the world with the message of Jesus Christ. "If Christ is lifted up then HE will draw all men unto Him." I want to lift Jesus up...

God bless all of you who are out there in the trenches reaching those that others would walk past.

just tim

[Full Quiver]

I missed this one.

Though I had absolutely nothing to do with the ministry I am about to describe I will speak for those that do.

We have what is called the Rock House. It is a Christian Night Club of sorts for teens on each Friday night of the month. Now I said Christian night club but one most certainly does not have to be a Christian to attend. There is a $3 cover charge and of course concessions cost but are very reasonable, cheaper than a market.

There is music and even live music at times. Most recently a teen band formerly called 1000 yr. reign. I forget their new name, Presidential something. anyhow there are billiard and f ooze ball tables, Playstations, Game Cubes, X-Boxes, ski ball, basket ball, etc. There are tables and couches for hanging out, a dj, black lights, and a dance floor. There is always plenty of adult supervision but never adults getting in your biz.

Some of the kids come to church but many don't. Some kids seek counseling, some are rough around the edges, but most come week after week. It is different than anything I have ever experienced before. Wen and I work at the Rock House one Friday night a month and the crowd varies in size. They say the numbers peek in the summer. Us adults usually talk amongst ourselves and just keep an eye out for funny business. I usually shoot pool with Steven Curtis Chapman's ex-drummer's son.

[THE RAzEr]

Recentaly McDanger posted a thread concerning remarks about the youth. With the various responses it got me thinking and I will ask the following question.

What type of progrqams does your local church have that specifically reaches out to the youth, especially the troubled, outside the immediate church family?

I think this is very vital to the harvest. I am a Counsel and Chaplain for the State of KY. I work for the department of Jevenile Justice in a lock up facility. We get the kids after they have been adjudicated in court. 13-18 mostly. Yes some of them are church kids. Some of them have never been to church. Some of them have families who love them, and some of them don't. They all have one thing in common, they are in trouble deep. I wonder how many churches have room for these kids? I hope I am reaching a few of them, but it is hard. It is the State. I have not been reprimanded as yet for presenting the Gospel, but I can only do so if the youth asks. I have been able at times to gently steer them to asking. There is another world out there which 32 years of Pastoring never really introduced me to. I got my baptism. Three years in the Ptison system and now in the Youth Detention. BTW it does not take a lot to get our church kids locked up. Just the wrong crowd, doing the wrong thing, at the wrong time, and I will be taking care of them. So your question is important. What are the churches doing?

Ray

[Full Quiver]

bump