Listen for a Local On-Ramp
This Great Idea is inspired by First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, via the Youth Serving-Organizations that Engage video in Springtide Research Institute’s ‘The Tide Report’.
Watch the full video here.
Basically, First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale listened to the needs and interests of local youth and created a youth ministry to match.
And it is joyful and thriving!
Young people in Fort Lauderdale who enjoy playing sports have very limited opportunities outside of the school’s varsity sports teams or (expensive) personal trainers or touring teams. There is no city rec team or pick-up ball.
So First Presbyterian created a drop-in sports night. High school-age kids show up to play ultimate frisbee, softball, basketball, volleyball, disc golf – the games vary often. After the informal game (there are no official refs – learning to honor the rules and each other is part of the experience) background-checked adults invite kids into a prayer time – in which prayer concerns are written down so church leaders can also pray for them.
That’s pretty much it.
A ministry could build on this with a simple invitation to talk about important topics: maybe once a month the group moves from game time into conversation. This can be as simple as asking how the young people feel about local events.
That’s really all this group needs to be: a simple invitation for teens to share with others, a hospitable environment in which kids get to do a thing they enjoy, and a gentle invitation and introduction to prayer.
If sports are not where your local kids find joy, the exact same idea can be implemented with other areas of interest, such as:
- musical instrument pop-up groups (pop bands, brass/wind ensembles, etc.)
- singing/choral music – easy and fun rather than performative
- improv theatre or stand-up comedy or spoken word nights
- card-making: stamps, water colors, stickers, etc., (the cards are really useful, too!)
- visual arts
- dance nights
- walking or running groups
- animal lovers
- etc., etc., etc.
The list can be endless. Discover what your teens are into simply by listening.
If getting kids to share what they’re interested in is a challenge, consider the following opportunities:
- attend local high school athletic, theater, and music events – and ask the kids who are not ‘performing’ what their interests are
- create or use existing neighborhood events (Trunk-or-Treat, Neighborhood Night Out, etc.) and invite teens to draw or write out their interests on a shared board
- invite active teens to interview their peers
- visit with parents: what is missing in their kids’ lives that they would like to support?
Mostly, listen to teens at any and every opportunity. And let them know you’re listening. Ask follow-up questions to avoid making assumptions and to ensure that they know you really care about their interests.
When you go to where the teens are, then make a point of asking and listening intently, a big part of your outreach is done. Once they know you are interested in them, they might be more interested in you/your congregation.
On-ramp with events that will interest youth without pressuring or conniving. Some will grow to appreciate your community and will seek it out for additional areas of interest – like exploring God, listening for the Spirit, and following Jesus.
