So we came up with an interesting idea. What if Uth group wasn't a 1-2 hour "event" on Wednesday nights but it was relationship building time. We decided to start Uth group at 2:30pm and end at 8:30pm. From 2:30 to 5:30 we would hang out, talk, help them with homework and build relationships. At 6:00p we would eat dinner (that we provided, which is a whole other struggle in it self) then at 7:00 we would do a service. We would all go down and clean as a group as parents would arrive. People told us we were crazy and we would never be able to do this and maintain our jobs. Its weird but when GOD puts a vision in your heart you just know it will work.
This has been the most successful thing we have ever done as a Uth group. We have brought in more un-churched teens through our doors than any other local church (according to my talks with local youth pastors). Just to clarify, its not to just bring them through the door but to have a chance to share the love of Jesus with them. We have been blessed with the opportunity to hang out with teens from every belief system (or non belief). Besides GOD's hand, I give most of the credit to the growth to Wednesday's.
Out of this started an even more amazing idea. We asked the teens to meet at our house every Wednesday morning, an hour and a half before school starts and read the bible with us. My wife cooks breakfast and we start our Wednesday's off to a great start.
We finally realized that we are not called to do church our way. We are called to do it his way. Its not until you surrender to this fact, that you will start to see change.
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