Preparing Our Youth – Part 2

Last week we noted that the church has always faced challenges and that one of the most serious challenges is keeping our young folks faithful. So many grow up, go to college, leave home and also leave the church in the process. It is a challenge that must be addressed.

We noted in last weeks article that involvement is one of the keys to keeping our youth faithful. Our youth need to be involved in the work and activities of the church and parents need to be involved in those activities with their children.

The church has a responsibility as well to make sure that our youth are prepared to serve the congregation. Last week we examined the first of two new programs to involve our youth. By encouraging our children to read their bibles daily or for parents to read the bible to their children, we can learn and study together.

The second program is a special 13-week Wednesday night bible study curriculum beginning in September. We’ll be taking all classes from the 4th grade and up, including the adults, and split them up into boys and girls, men and women and for 13 weeks focus on worship, the various acts of worship, scripture reading, public speaking and leadership concerning the role of elders and deacons, preachers, and bible class teachers.

What’s great about this is that every class from the 4th grade and up will be studying the same topic each week of the 13 weeks. Parents can help their children and the children can help the parents. Each grade level and class will focus on the significance of that lesson for his or her age level. For example, concerning the Lord’s Supper, the boys classes will talk about the significance of the Lord’s Supper but they will also hold the trays and practice passing them around in class to get a feel for what it is like to serve. They’ll also talk about what to say when leading the table. The girls classes will also talk about the Lord’s Supper and see what is involved in it’s preparation, while the adult classes will go into more scriptural detail of the Lord’s Supper.

Young girls and women need to learn about song leading, making announcements and saying prayers just as men because of special events like ladies day. Therefore, they will have their own classes where they can learn and practice together. Each class, especially for the non-adults, will offer opportunities for the students to practice what they are learning such as saying prayers, reading scriptures, preparing short lessons, song leading and much more.

The most important thing is to be here and to bring your children so as they grow and mature and obey the gospel they will be prepared to serve the congregation. For those young men and boys who have already obeyed the gospel this will give them additional opportunities to learn about worship and leadership and get more comfortable so they can begin participating more in our public worship. For the girls, it will help them as well to actively participate in special events, to be good bible teachers, and ultimately to be faithful wives of elders, deacons, and preachers.

Todd Hinson