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1-28-07 -- Reversing the Sexual Trend for Teens
Love and Marriage
Despite abstinence programs like “True Love Waits,” Christian teenagers continue to experiment sexually before marriage. Brighton (Michigan) Christian Church attempted to reverse this trend by combining biblical teaching on sexuality and relationships with a twist—a wedding!
The wedding wasn’t between two teens, of course—instead, Brighton’s four-week series on dating and courtship ended with a renewing of vows between two already-married church members. The church writes, “Youth group members filled the various roles of family members and bridal party. The event focused on the various symbolic traditions involved in the wedding ceremony itself, and ended with a cake and punch reception for all.”
The studies preceding the unusual ceremony included discussions on spiritual adultery and sexual immorality, finding a future mate, avoiding divorce, and the importance of submitting to one’s parents. Junior high and senior high students participated.
www.brightonchristian.org
Test-Driving a New Ministry
When Rob Lee planned a tricycle race, he had no idea it would lead to a ministry at the Hawkeye Downs Speedway.
Lee, youth pastor at Antioch Christian Church (Marion, Iowa), called the speedway in June 2002 seeking permission to use the facility for the youth group’s summer kickoff (which included competitive tricycle racing). During the conversation, the speedway’s general manager asked Lee to say the opening prayer before the races that season. Lee accepted and spent most Friday nights that summer at the track, offering the invocation and staying to walk through the pit area and build relationships with the pros.
The following year Lee joined the Motor Racing Outreach Association, an organization dedicated to providing chaplains for NASCAR, and began leading an open time of prayer before the races. In 2004 he organized a short chapel service before practices, and he continues to walk the pit area and connect with the drivers one-on-one.
“It takes about three years to build trust and develop relationships,” says Lee. “But some guys now ask me to pray with them if they miss chapel. The MROA also provides small copies of the New Testament and devotional materials for me to distribute.”
Antioch Christian supports Lee and even created the “Faith in Adversity” award for the driver who best demonstrated character and perseverance during a difficult year. Drivers, fans, and track officials make nominations, and Lee presents the award during the Hawkeye Downs Award Banquet at the end of the season.
www.lifeisforliving.org
E-pods
As Eastview Christian Church (Normal, Illinois) transitioned from an adult Sunday school model to a program of weekly small groups, Jason Smith decided the children’s programming also needed to change.
“We realized most families now attend only one weekend service,” says Smith, director of children’s ministry. “So kids attended either our children’s church or our Sunday school, and we want each child to experience both.”
To accomplish this goal Smith and his team redesigned the format of weekend programming for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Instead of two different services, Eastview now offers identical 75-minute programs that include both large-group worship and small-group interaction.
“We didn’t want to lose the educational component,” Smith says. “So after a fun, high-energy time with music and video, the kids go to ‘pods’ we’ve built where they dig into the material with object lessons, crafts, and Bible study.”
Teachers lead the same pod of eight kids each week, providing consistency for the young learners. To facilitate this new approach, the team developed curriculum that not only guides the lessons but allows teachers to log in to an online site and choose from a variety of opening and closing activities and study materials.
“It’s been a huge hit with our volunteers,” Smith says. “Teachers love the flexibility of designing the small-group time based on their own giftedness and the needs of the students.”
The church provides convenience as well as customization; after teachers make their selections, a resource team fills a tote bag for each pod with the materials needed for the chosen activities.
Eastview designed the curriculum to take students through the entire Old and New Testaments three times between preschool and fifth grade, and included options for teachers with special needs children.
www.eastviewchurch.net
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
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