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| | | Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 4/9/2008 1:07:29 PM
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| | This is my first post ever and I have sought out place after place to find some answers. Here's the situation. I have been a youth pastor for 4 years now. About three years ago we had the vision to open a skate park for our community kids. It was a long hard fought battle, not with my leaedrship, but withour insuarence company. In fact we are now on our fourth insuarence company in three years and have had no claims. But we have been committed to the vision. The more we press through the more our hearts break for these kids. We are not a large congregation 140 or so in membership and here in lies part of the problem. In this last year we have jumped from 15-20 kids in regular attendance to 120-150 kids that come out to our parking lot every Friday. I currently 10-15 staff from 8 eight different churches that come every week, but as fast as we add staff we add kids. We just can't stay on top of it. So here is my question. Where do I start to reach these kids? I have this overwhelming sense of responsibility to be a good steward of what God has given us here, but I don't know how to effectively do it. We do have Bible Studies and our staff are equipped to build relationship, but it just doesn't seem to be effectively reaching these kids. For those we do reach it is a lot of work to help them through this journey of faith. There is a lot of getting up and falling down, and starting over. I know that it is necessary, but how do I protect myself and my staff from burn out in the midst of this as well? Wow, I just threw a lot there at once, But I am desperate for some ideas on this. Thanks all, I can't wait to hear back from you.
Dave |
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| | | Forum Guru
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Last Login: 2 days ago @ 6:31:47 AM
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| | Dave, First, congratulations on the success of reaching out to the students of your community. Second, the next step (which should have come from the beginning) is what is the purpose of the skate park? Was it for the purpose of providing a safe park or was there a spiritual goal in mind? This is the part of the vision that has to be throughoughly dealt with before a plan is completed and definetly before it goes into action. Now that you have the park and the students there are a couple of ways you can handle the evangelism part. One way is to plan an actual big event. Search different Christian groups and find a skater/evangelistic ministry. Second is to plan small groups ahead of time that will meet at certain times in various areas of the parking lot. Third option is to have an intermission where a 5-10 minute devotion is given and an opportunity to commit to Christ. Just a few starting points! Let us know how it goes! Matt Forum Moderator |
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Forum Expert
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| | Dave, It sounds like you've done well in reaching the teens in your community. That's great! I'll definitely be praying for you and your staff as you continue in ministry with youth. Post an update when you can as well. God Bless, Josh T. in Ohio
 Group's Crocodile Dock VBS 2009  Date: To Be Determined |
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