Last Wednesday night we had our Back to School Kick Off for our High School students and our Jr. High Group starts back up in just a few short weeks as well. We are officially back in full-swing youth group season and it feels good!
With everything else starting back up around this time of year as well- school, sports, extracurricular activities etc.- it can sometimes be difficult to fit church or youth group into the mix. I know when I was in high school between homework, competitive soccer, student council, youth group and Bible study, I could barely keep it all straight at times. With everything else our students have going on these days, I'm sure they sometime wonder why they should even bother to come to church or youth group?
While preparing for our Kick Off Last Week, I came across this great article: "Top Ten Reasons To Be Part of a Youth Group." I liked it so much, I shared those ten reasons with our High School students at the Kick Off last week and wanted to share them with you all as well.
10. Forgiveness In any friendship, we make mistakes. Being part of a Christian group means we believe in forgiveness.
9. Positivity The negativity of others can easily bring us down. In a Christian group, we believe we are created in God’s image and wants us to live a life of joy and purpose.
8. Teamwork We look around our world and wish we could make a difference. In a Christian group, we are called to work together to make this a better world to live in.
7. Direction It sometimes seems like there’s no right or wrong in the world we live in. Being in a Christian group can give us direction and help us to choose what is right and provides friends who will support us.
6. Corporate Worship By ourselves, we don’t always feel close to God. Jesus promised that where two or three gather in his name – He is with them.
5. Enthusiasm Many people don’t seem too excited about their faith. In a Christian youth group, most people are there because they want to be there. The enthusiasm is contagious.
4. Support In a Christian group, we have others with whom we can pray and share our concerns.
3. Role Models In a Christian group, Jesus is our role model and we have other leaders who strive to live like him.
2. Friends In a Christian youth group, we can meet and bring friends who have the same needs we all have and who also need a supportive group of friends in their lives.
1. Community In a Christian youth group, we are connected to the larger church that Jesus established. It is a place where we can know our God, grow in love and faith, and change the world we live in.
Those are just a few of the good reasons we encourage our students to be a part of our youth group and I'm sure you could add your own reasons as well! We are excited for this upcoming school year and everything God has to teach us as a part of his community.
Sincerely,
Jessica
