Years ago, our church in Goodwins Mills began looking ahead. We realized that many of the young people we had led to Christ had grown up, graduated and moved on to college or the workforce. That recognition led to a clear next step: we needed to start a junior youth group.
At the time, our junior youth group served as childcare during the women’s Bible study. Since then, attendance has consistently ranged between 15 and 20 children. The structure of this group is something I want to share, as it may be helpful and reproducible in other churches.
We call it “Play it Safe.” Our volunteer junior youth leaders lead games, offer a snack and share a devotional. The games are much like the ones I grew up with: hide-and-seek, chase and the like. Few kids play games like these in our digital age, but our kids love them and the friendships they build while playing.
For a long time, I felt a little guilty that our “program” didn’t have more substance like well-known programs such as Awana, Christian Service Brigade and Pioneer Clubs. But lately I’ve come to realize that the primary thing the kids are getting is relationship. They come to church because their friends are there. They go to camp because their friends go. They are being introduced to Christ by adults who know them and care about them. Those adults share Bible stories and point them to Christ.
I don’t have the energy to recruit and train volunteers to run another version of Christianized Scouting. The “merit badges” alone require a level of teaching and materials that feels overwhelming. But as a grandfather, I can ensure that children play safely and fairly. And as I settle their squabbles, I can model Christian servanthood. I can also share one of the many Bible stories I know by heart, and my volunteers can as well.
A friend recently asked me about our youth program. I shared a bit, and he responded with a melancholy, “We don’t have any children in our church.”
Since then, I’ve kept thinking about that. Even if a church doesn’t have many children, it often has plenty of grandparents. And to be a grandparent, you have to have grandchildren. Grandparents may not have the energy to run Awana or Christian Service Brigade, but as a grandparent myself, I can say it’s not that hard to bring a grandson or granddaughter along to play with friends.
Want to try it out? Consider hosting a simple gathering for your grandkids and their friends at church. Choose a few games, prepare a snack and share a Bible story. You may find they have a great time and want to come back. And who knows, you might just start a junior youth group at your church.
