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May 2001

Rev. Sharon White

associate pastor, North UMC

Indianapolis

It is important to work through youth already involved in planning their church activities. Their enthusiasm will attract others. Adults need to encourage them and be excited to have young people working with them. In our church during their period of study, one responsibility our confirmands take is to read Scripture at the Sunday worship services.

And there needs to be a Director of Youth Ministry to help the young people plan. Youth ministry is a full-time job!

Ken Cretcher

Bourbon First UMC

Bourbon

It's important to keep interested in the youth, to build a relationship with them. We need to get involved with youth culture -- their music, their reading -- "The Left Behind Series" for example. In our church youth do an entire Sunday service three or four times a year, and always lead our Easter Sunrise Service. They work in local missions, sit on our Administrative Council, and visit with our senior members on their own. An atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence exists between the young people and their leaders.

Maxine Smith

Black's Chapel UMC

Mt. Vernon

We need to have a better understanding of youth, keep up with what they want. The media put so much pressure on them. Keeping our young people interested in church is a full-time job. We must guide them in such a way that they want to go to church and Sunday School. It's important to let them know that leading a Christian life is exciting and rewarding.

Donald Renner

Springs Valley UMC

French Lick

We need to offer young people church on their terms, something they can be comfortable with -- more contemporary music and liturgy.

We need to show them it's possible to have Jesus in the times we live in now, rather than a Jesus of 150 years ago. They want a simple Jesus, one they can walk with -- a Jesus of the Gospels. That is our challenge.

Pat Friday

Memorial UMC

Terre Haute

What we've done at our church works well. We started a contemporary service called Power Point at the 11 o'clock Sunday Service. We thought to target young people with it. But we've been surprised to find that elderly people like it, too. A number of young people are involved in its "production." Our 15-year old son runs the sound equipment.