Partying Like It’s 1999
Does anyone like to party? Come on, we all do, right? After all, it’s a huge part of our culture today. We seem to celebrate anything from birthdays and weddings to Tupperware and cooking utensils. Who can say no to a good party? There’s just something about inviting a bunch of people over to experience the big 3 (Fun, Food, and Fellowship).
So if parties are such a big part of our culture and so much fun, then why aren’t we partying more in the church? Is it because we remember what it was like at some of those parties we went to when we were students? Is it because it takes time and energy to throw a great shindig?
All I know is this . . . students love to party! I can’t tell you how many times I hear my students talk about some big party at so and so’s house. Do I get nervous about it from time to time? Sure! I’m not stupid. I remember what some of those parties where like when I was their age. But I also know that we are working very hard to create students of influence, who will withstand any negative pressures thrown at them; who will not waiver in their faith as they are working to influence their peers without negatively influencing themselves. And we know that our students’ best opportunities to influence their world aren’t within the four walls of our church – they’re out there! They’re at the schools and cafés and, yes, the local parties on Friday nights.
So, if our students understand how to use our culture to their advantage, why are we as leaders having such a difficult time with it? Let’s stop turning away from culture like it’s some kind of poison, and let’s start using it to our advantage. In an earlier blog, Jeremy Brown (student pastor at New Hope Community Church) challenged us to get creative with our resources, in the hope that our students would be more engaged and more excited about coming to our youth meetings. I would like to share with you one of the things we’ve begun, which is helping us do just that.
On the first Wednesday of each month, we throw a big strategic party. Notice I said strategic! We aren’t just throwing parties because we can – they take too much time and energy. Instead, we are thinking with the end in mind and working backwards. Sure, the party definitely has the big 3 (Fun, Food, Fellowship) but it has so much more. This is our opportunity to kick-off the spiritual checkpoint for the month. The whole night is centered on that theme. From the food to the games and everything in between, it’s all geared to get the students to start thinking about the four-week series that we want share with them that month.
These parties are also designed so that our core students have a platform to invite their un-churched friends to a non-threatening environment, where they will learn a little about who we are and what we’re about while seeing the love of Christ in action. And during the night, through all the activities, they get a little taste of what’s to come in the next four weeks and why it’s important for them to check it out.
Give this a try and let me know how it goes. All I can say is that it’s doing wonders for us, especially at the junior high level. Let’s begin to be engaging and relevant by using culture to our advantage, not running away from it. Thanks for allowing me to share my thoughts with you.
Blessings,
Scott Lowe
Administrator of Student Ministries
NewPointe Community Church
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