LET’S TAKE THE GUESS-WORK A
By Ted W . Engstrom, President, Youth for Christ, International I n th e Bu r e a u o f Standards in Washington, D.C., they will show you some metal objects that are guard ed as carefully as the gold in Ft. Knox —not because the metal itself is so valuable, but because these objects are the standards for our system of weights and measures. Imagine how confusing our lives would be if there were no standard foot, pound, or meter! Progress would c o m e t o an immediate halt, and no one would be able to be certain of anything. Obviously you cannot run a scientific laboratory or a hospital operating room on guess-work! The same principle applies to the work of the local Sunday School and church: guess-work leads to less work and ultimately to poor results, if any at all. Having worked with young peo ple in local churches and inter denominational programs around the world, I am convinced that it is time we took the guess-work out of youth work and start operating on basic fundamentals that will get the job done. It is time we exchanged points and challenged today’s teen-agers with a program that will make a difference in their lives and in the work of our churches. Lef's Stop Guessing About the Kind of Youth Workers to Enlist Not everyone can work with teen agers. This is a simple statement to make, yet a difficult one to practice. We are careful to get the best Bible teachers for the adults, and the finest, most patient story-tellers for the chil dren; but too often we give the young people sponsors and directors that no other d e p a r t m e n t wants. Sunday School experts tell us that we lose 80% of our pupils when they get to the teen years—and common sense would demand that we enlist the very best workers to put a stop to this spiritual kidnapping! What are the ingredients that go to make up a successful youth worker? Let me suggest: 1. Spirituality. Teen-agers can de tect a counterfeit in almost no time, so don’t try to fool them. A sponsor who lives in the Word, depends on the Spirit, and prays daily for his young
even though he has to pay a price to get it. One of the keys to a successful youth program is the sponsor. God does not build a ministry on a program, but a person—and the right person can be sure of God’s blessing. Let's Stop Guessing About the Kind of Youth Programs to Present A program is much more than activ ities. Many a church has invested money in recreational equipment and refreshments for exciting youth activ ities, only to discover the embarrass ing absence of the young people! Why? Because teens have plenty of activities available to them (and most of them more exciting than what we can present) and what they want is not activities but aims. They do not want something to do so much as something to live for; and a successful youth program must be built around basic aims. May I suggest several? 1-. Fellowship t h a t is uplifting. Teen-agers are group-minded because they need what the group has to offer: a sense of belonging in a world that cares little about them. Childish games dug out of a 1910 “ game book” will never provide the fellowship and fun teen-agers are looking for. But teen-slanted games, training sessions, and opportunities for service will help do the job. 2. A challenge that is demanding. If young people today do dare-devil things and get into trouble* it is only because they respond quickly to a challenge. The Communists have proved themselves and they will grow in achieving their goals. I am con vinced that more teen-agers, leave our Sunday Schools and churches be cause they are not asked to do any- thing, than any other single reason. 3. Christian education that is excit ing. Young people want excitement, and instead of trying to change this basic factor in their nature, let’s capi talize on it. Is there any reason why Bible study, singing in a youth choir, or planning next month’s programs cannot be exciting? If we make God’s Word live and have twentieth-century meaning, then we will give them the (Concluded on page 40)
people will have a better chance for success. 2. A love for teens. He will never be able to put up with the problems or face the heartaches if he has no love in his heart for the fellows and girls he is working with. Techniques fail, methods fail, and programs fail, but “ love never faileth.” 3. Alertness. Avoid the sponsor who keeps saying, “Now, back when I was a teen-ager . . .” Whether we like it or not, today’s teens are different, even though their basic spiritual problems are the same. No missionary would dare to go to a field without knowing the language and culture of the people he is trying to reach; yet many youth sponsors think they can win the re spect and confidence of teen-agers when they know nothing of their cul ture and the lives they lead! This does not mean we must approve of their vocabulary and fads, but we must know how they are living if we ever hope to win them. 4. A sense of humor. “We don’t need any fire extinguishers in our church!” complained a teen-ager. “ There are enough old grouches to throw a wet blanket on anything!” It is too bad that young people have equated sourness with spirituality, when just the opposite is true. “ These things write we unto you that your joy may be full,” says the Apostle John. A sanctified sense of humor will solve many problems in youth work and win teens to Christ. 5 . T h e ability to plan. Youth are accustomed to planned programs. They have it in school, Scouts, civic organizations, and other activities; and when they fail to find it in their church, they feel left out. The success ful youth sponsor plans ahead (with the school calendar before him, by the way) and keeps his teens active in a balanced program. 6. Time. A youth sponsor is more than a representative on a church board, or a designer of a church youth program. He is actually the pastor of a teen-age church! As the young peo ple come to appreciate and trust him, they confide in him; and he discovers that his time and his home are not his own. This is actually a compliment,
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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