|
| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/7/2007 9:11:42 AM
Posts: 1, Visits: 3 |
| | Hey everyone - I'm new to this, but I was curious about your take on the pros and cons of breaking a group into Jr. Sr. High. I have always thought it best to have some stuff together and discussion time separate. I am about to begin working in a new church and one set of parents stated that if we separate the group into Jr. Sr. high that we will lose their child. I'm curious what ya'lls thoughts are on it! Thanks bunches. (Oh yeah- it's not a big group right now, but it once was and we hope to build the group again.) Thanks, Karen |
| |
| | | 
Forum Expert
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 1:06:04 PM
Posts: 1,175, Visits: 3,375 |
| | Karen, I think that Sunday School is the time for Jr. Highers and Sr. Highers to be separated. It's even better if you have a small group because the teacher can interact more with each individual teen. Sunday School should be the faith building/Bible learning time for your teens. Have the studies be age appropriate. Being split into Jr. High and Sr. High when in deep discussions will help each age group with what they actually feel and knowing that they will be heard and understood by the people around them. Then at your Sunday Night or Wednesday Night event have both the Jr. High and Sr. High together. This should be more of a bounding/fellowship time but also a time to bring their friends so they can hear the Gospel. The Youth Group teaching should be basic and easy for a non-Christian teen to follow and grasp. I hope this helps you. God Bless, Josh T. in Ohio
 Group's Crocodile Dock VBS 2009  June 15-19, 2009 |
| |
| | | 
Forum Expert
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 10:24:41 AM
Posts: 2,251, Visits: 9,836 |
| Josh1 (12/14/2007)
Karen, I think that Sunday School is the time for Jr. Highers and Sr. Highers to be separated. It's even better if you have a small group because the teacher can interact more with each individual teen. Sunday School should be the faith building/Bible learning time for your teens. Have the studies be age appropriate. Being split into Jr. High and Sr. High when in deep discussions will help each age group with what they actually feel and knowing that they will be heard and understood by the people around them. Then at your Sunday Night or Wednesday Night event have both the Jr. High and Sr. High together. This should be more of a bounding/fellowship time but also a time to bring their friends so they can hear the Gospel. The Youth Group teaching should be basic and easy for a non-Christian teen to follow and grasp. I hope this helps you. God Bless, Josh T. in Ohio Ditto Josh! That is exaclty what we do and it has worked very well.
Partnering with parents to "TRAIN" up our children in the way they should go! |
| |
| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/24/2007 9:55:16 AM
Posts: 6, Visits: 12 |
| | We consistantly have 45 youth in junior high show up for Wednesday nights, in the same room the senior high meets on Sunday nights and 45-70 show up. Its to big of a group to do combined in that space. In both of those groups we also have small groups that meet on a regular basis. |
| |
| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/20/2008 6:37:43 AM
Posts: 5, Visits: 10 |
| | We split our student ministry into two seperate ministries last year. We made this decision based on two reasons. The first was space, but when we looked at the spiritual implications, and it was an obvious decision. We still do large events together. We also have seniors assist and mentor in our middle school ministry this preparing them to be better disciples. The initial opinion and thoughts were mixed. However as those who disliked it saw the benefits they came around. We have seperate small groups, Sunday School, and worship. Seperate worship is difficult on the staff. We taylor each message to fit the needs of middle school and high school students seperately. More of our high school students returned that didn't like the "kiddie" atmosphere. Our middle school students started to invite their friends. One idea that we are kicking around is to have two seperate sermons split with combined praise and worship in the middle. This gives the student led band a break. |
| |
| | | 
Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/9/2008 7:40:08 PM
Posts: 19, Visits: 61 |
| Great advice from everyone. I think it basically depends on your church, your leadership, and your....well let's be honest, amount of resources. We have about 12-15 faithful youth in our group. I've always wanted to break the group up but found it impossible because of what's listed above. Plus, I'm terrible at delegating work out to others which doesn't help any. Best case scenerio, I think it can be good for them to be separate, but it's also good for them to be together. It gives the senior high students opportunity to be an example to the younger ones.
joshld.wordpress.com |
| |
| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/20/2008 6:37:43 AM
Posts: 5, Visits: 10 |
| | One other thing I did not mention was the size of your group. I feel that with a small group, it is better worship together. If you split 20 kids into two groups, their worship basically is a longer Sunday School. |
| |
| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/21/2008 6:23:45 PM
Posts: 7, Visits: 17 |
| | Interesting! I was told by a parent that if I DIDN'T split the MS from the HS for fellowship, they would leave the church (and they have). I have been told by my pastor to split but with a group of 15, about 1/2 in MS and 1/2 in HS - it doesn't make sense to me. I see the benefits but NOT when we are this little. We DO split for SS and we have a HS only bible study weekly but the fellowship is for all youth together. It works for us... Theresa in FL |
| |
| | | | |
|