Youth Group - A Poem

There are many ideas as to how youth group should be run and is run. The two I am most familiar with is the "funnel/attraction" model; and the "build, reach, flow" model taught by Ken Moser.

The "funnel/attraction" model mainly seeks to draw in the non-christian through entertainment with a gospel message tossed in or placed where emotions are heightened. The "build, reach, flow" model I learned at Briercrest from Ken Moser where it mainly focuses on the youth already in the church and discipling them as well as building healthy relationships; that way when they are strengthened in their knowledge of the faith, encouraging relationships, and will automatically reach out to the non-christians around them. Also, as the youth are "build" up in their faith, and they "reach" out to their non-christian friends or acquaintances, they will not drop out of youth group or the church as they "flow" through the program.

When I learned about this way of running youth ministry during my time at Briercrest, as well as the staggering statistics of youth and young adults leaving the Church, I was deeply impacted and driven to put the "build, reach, flow" model into effect in youth groups.

For Youth Min 101, for an artistic project, we were able to do anything as long as it explained what youth group, or what youth ministry is. SO - after listening to a lot of Shane Koyczan at the time (check the guy out on youtube if you haven't heard him before, some personal favourites are 'the crickets have arthritis' and 'to this day') I decided to write a poem about youth group.

NOW - without further a due, here's my poem:

What is Youth Group?

Sarah Holmes

“It’s time to play -”, fill in the blank. And end the day with talks of Jesus

and how he loves us, and how we should give our hearts to him.

Some kids seem to answer the “alter call” on a whim, and then get on with their lives wondering

“Where did I go wrong? When I sang that song, I surrender all, I thought I meant it;

but it doesn’t seem worth it anymore.” At the same time youth leaders stand by the doors

as kids leave for home and ponder, “is this everything we could have hoped for?”

If the games were no longer berserk, making some kids smirk at the joke

of “‘Jesus loves you,’ while I throw a dodge ball at this bloke!” If the activities tracked with the message and lacked the confusion of how we talk about things like “taking up our cross” and later count our loss in the times played “honey if you love me” because the person did not smile.

Games that defile the message are not lost among the youth who grasp there is a cost to life with Christ. 
The message can connect with a game, without it having to maim the desire to learn. 

Do the kids get it? Do they really understand the cost of following Christ?

Or have we veiled the meaning as leaders while gleaning

the flagging tape off the floor from last nights “Mission Impossible”?

Do we understand what it means to disciple youth, or are we spectators in a corner booth

looking on as kids play, making messes in disarray with no one to help them right the wrong.

It’s just another old tune to a familiar song, the one where we all hum along but forget the words.

I’m building upon on a foundation that wants to change the nation

by showing them what it means to disciple youth.

Truth be told, this is a scary concept. The fact we have kept

to our ways of play games first and ask questions later.

Just who is this Saviour – who is also my maker –

who loves me for who I am, while chug soda from a can?

Where is the gold in the fire? Where is our desire to seek the truth

and accept the times where we’ve failed the youth for not showing them

what it means to be a Christian? It is more than claiming to be His

and leaving it at that. Leaders, we must accept the fact

we are building with straw and fluff, and not the stuff made to stand fast

like jewels, silver, and gold; which will last when God’s fire tests the quality of our work.

“Building, reaching, flowing”, are concepts I’ve tried to live without knowing

how to do so the right way. I lost sight of it amongst the throng of kids at play

thinking, “this is how it’s done. In the long run believers should sprout from pews

and hear more of the good news and keep following Christ.” But this isn’t enough.

It’s tough to run a group of kids on games hoping they will live lives described in the book of James.

Something’s wrong. How long do we leaders have to wait for change, before it’s too late?

We need to change as well, Oh leaders. Do you not think it’s strange

that there is no consistency in this ministry run for youth

who come here flippantly and refuse to wilfully live responsibly outside this group?

EMBRASE THE EPIPHANY! There is more than saying, “do as I say not as I do,”

If only we knew the consequences of our actions and hypocritical mouths;

that God’s grace cannot be abused or even aroused if we take it for granted.

Christ said to ‘follow me, lose your lives if you want to live free, for

“my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” If it wasn’t for His might I could not pull through, but we need to do all we can to live by His example. We need only to sample and see His goodness

in the midst of suffering that is sure to come. Do not become undone by the pressures of life,

because in His strife grace was given to us. We are forgiven, we are blessed, and we have authority to teach and guide the youth instead of hide from our guilt and cower from truth.

Oh youth, come and flee from sins evil longings, and let’s pursue

all things good of our Father. Let us encourage our mother, sister, and brother

to live with righteousness, faith, love and peace. Let us increase our affirmation in God

and no longer wear the façade of claiming “Christian” and not know what we say.

Let us live the way that leads to everlasting. Follow our example that is no longer contrasting

to what we say and act, but instead is intact with the gospel.

~To God be the glory