Teenagers often get a bad reputation for being detached and disengaged, but many young people learn a lot about fellowship through their church’s youth programs. If you feel like your teens could be more passionate about coming together, make sure your church is doing its best to promote social engagement with other young Christians.
Invest in Church Camps
Camp is an excellent idea for any kid that spends too much time indoors during the summer, but church organizations offer all the fun and adventure of a normal camp while also nurturing a child’s relationship with God. Churches that want to sponsor members of their congregation to attend can hold fundraisers and track budgetary progress using church accounting software.
Think Outside the Box With VBS
Vacation Bible School is a successful institution that encourages local churches to educate their youth on the Bible in an exciting way. Each annual VBS session typically features a theme with activities and lessons that tie in. Be creative in coming up with these themes and do some research to keep the agenda of events unique and engaging.
Organize Fun Social Events
Consider the things that teenagers already enjoy doing: video games, movie marathons, trivia, etc., and then put together events centered around these activities. Encourage kids to bring their friends from school so that new bonds and connections can be made. Provide pizza and snacks to keep the energy up long enough to build some real fellowship.
Promote Volunteering
Organize field trips to animal shelters, retirement homes or the local park where teens can give back by helping out. By encouraging a group outing, more participants are drawn to come because they’ll have friendly company, and each person has the chance to meet new people.
However you choose to encourage fellowship in your church community, it’s important to keep it fun. The more exciting an event can be, the more attendance you’re likely to attract.