Abingdon Youth

by Lois Runk

Youth will find our ministry welcoming when we create a sharing, caring community.

The account in Luke 24:13-25 of two men’s offer of hospitality to a stranger on the road to Emmaus is a biblical mandate to welcome youth. It’s also an invitation to listen to one another and discover who we really are.

Our ministry will be one that youth find welcoming if we

•Create a welcoming environment;.

•.Make our programs relevant to the issues and concerns of youth;.

•Help leaders develop welcoming skills and attitudes;.

•Help youth develop hospitality;

A Welcoming Environment
The area where youth meet needs to be clean, attractive, and inviting to youth, who need to feel it is their place. (Consider letting youth redecorate or repaint the area, including choosing the paint and so on.)

Have open space for games or recreation. The area does not have to be large (even floor space for several four-square areas would be helpful). Make sure that games and sports equipment are accessible and that any play balls are properly inflated and ready.

Consider purchasing (or borrowing) an inexpensive CD boombox. Buy or borrow tapes or CD’s (contemporary Christian music encompasses a variety of styles, from the ballad to heavy metal). Background music goes a long way toward creating a relaxed atmosphere, but avoid that canned elevator sound: a sure-fire turnoff.

A conversation area with comfortable furniture or comfortable pillows is a real plus. What about mounting youth oriented posters on walls or having the youth do a mural?

However the youth space is decorated, make sure that the youth have input into the final decisions – they might even do the work themselves – so they can see the space as theirs.

We’re Glad You’re Here!”
Having a welcoming youth space is not the only factor in extending hospitality to youth. Adult leaders and youth leaders must be committed to welcoming others.

Adult leaders need to be present at least fifteen minutes before youth gather for any event – for assistance with equipment or just talking. Youth leaders need to be immediately visible when other youth and adults arrive.

Greeters at doors can welcome every arriving person (assign one adult and one youth to each door). As youth arrive and are greeted, they are immediately invited to join activities in progress.

The greeters also introduce each new person or visitor to a youth who has been a part of the ministry for a while. This youth tries to learn all he or she can about the visitor so that when the group come together the person can be introduced.

Train youth to get specific information from visitors and to jot it down on printed cards.

A Sharing Community
After recreation but before a snack or meal everyone gathers in a friendship circle. Someone in the group introduces new youth; birthdays are celebrated, as are other special occasions that youth tell about.

Prayer requests are made at this time, and a youth or adult offers prayer for the entire group. At the meal adults are assigned tables to sit at – to help youth engage in conversation or just simply to sit there.

The meal is followed by worship with praise singing, Scripture reading, and an interpretation of the Scripture in some form.

After worship we break up into smaller groups. During this time youth share and bond with one another. At the end of the fellowship time youth form a friendship circle and are sent forth from the circle to serve.

This pattern is helpful because it offers both small group sharing and large group interaction.

A Caring Community
Outgoing youth and adult leaders are a big asset to a youth ministry. Newcomers especially appreciate friendly, caring leaders who know everyone’s name, care if each person is present, and are concerned about what‘s going on with each person.

Adult leaders can show interest by paying attention to youth and by concentrating on what youth are saying. Looking interested and making affirming sounds show that you are still there.

But hear more than words. Be sensitive to body language. Make sure that what is being said is what is really meant. Check to see if you are hearing something right by saying it back to the youth in different words. Ask clarifying questions, such as, “What do you mean by that?”

Be non-judgmental and unshockable. Create the impression that what is being said will not color your opinion of the person. Remember that most of the time youth do not need our advice, experience, or expertise. All they need is a minute or two of our time. Most youth like to talk, and they appreciate adults with listening attitudes.

Examples of Excellence
Our youth leaders are significant role models by their own welcoming behaviors and attitudes. (Youth do observe the behavior of adults.) One way we help youth feel wanted at our youth meetings is by using volunteer youth observers.

A youth observer identifies youth not participating in any activities. The youth observer has two choices: to ask the person to join him or her or to ask another youth to invite the person to participate. Sometimes youth do not want to participate, but we always invite them anyway.

Our mandate to welcome people comes from the Emmaus Road experience (Luke 24:13-35) and Jesus’ charge to his followers to make disciples of all peoples (Matthew 28:18-20). Both these Scriptures are constantly before our youth and adult leaders.

Since the beginning of our youth ministry this year, we have welcomed new youth each week. The good news is that these youth continue to come. We have put the biblical images first in our life together, and that makes a distinctive difference!
Lois Runk is a diaconal minister in Cincinnati, Ohio

Brought to you by your youth ministry colleagues at Cokesbury.

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