TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING?
Sometimes it’s said that you can’t get enough of a good thing.
In relation to God that must be true. He is good. There is always more of God. There is no such thing as “too much God”.
I remember hearing someone I knew as being “too holy”. It said more of the poor attitude of the speaker than it did of the Christian walk of the person spoken of!
There is always more of the Holy Spirit, “how much more will the Father give to those who ask”, Jesus said. And we should be expectant of his works, anticipate his presence and eagerly seek his gifts.
Which brings me to the youth group on a Tuesday night.
Such is the growth in that group that we were contingency planning this week what to do if we ended up with too many young people!
This is no small thing. It is imperative that the time together is safe, fun and provides an opportunity to share a Gospel message each week.
Over the last two years or so the group has grown from about a dozen regulars to the potential for over 50 young people. Last year and this year over 20 new entrants each year have just left Primary school and starting Secondary and have chosen to join us.
The evening starts with hang out time with games and light refreshments, then half way through after tidy up a time to share. Then splitting into an older group and younger group the young people explore the Bible in the context of real life questions they are facing and close in prayer.
There is a real sense of respect and being part of a family. Fun and care for youth with all the pressures and difficulties they face and the joyful exuberance they bring.
But more, there is a real sense that God is working in them and through them. Testimonies included young people sharing something if their lives and their opportunity to pray into those situations.
God is doing a work here.
Charlotte, our children’s minister specialised in the under 5s ministry through Carousel and Pre-School church. By making each a mirror of the other pathway from outreach (Carousel) into church on a Sunday has been successfully created. There are regular church members now who have moved from Carousel, into Sunday church, through baptism Alpha prep to full, regular membership. And have brought friends along too!
When our previous Youth Pastor left, Charlotte became full time to guide the Tuesday youth club. That was two years ago. I remember her saying something like “as a mother, they need to be mothered”. And she has worked hard to create this sense of family.
The dedicated Youth Team is small and absolutely committed to the well being, nurturing of faith and love for the young people. But with only a few in the team there has always been real pressure to be present almost every week.
Hence our need to contingency plan. With 30-50+ young people, hungry for fellowship and open to the Gospel. A small team, no matter how dedicated, faces the possibility of no longer being either comfortable or “legal “. The desirable ratio is 1/6 (leader to young people), the comfortable ratio 1/8 and the absolute minimum for short periods of time is 1/10.
If we breach these because of the large number of young people combined with small number of leaders we are forced to limit capacity and/or consider closing a session. Hence the contingency plan!
This is a great problem to have!
The best solution is more help. We therefore are looking for Youth Assistants. We need more adult supervisors which will release existing leaders in the e team to lead and also ensure that we have sufficient adults in the building that we never have to contemplate capping numbers or worst case close a session.
Could this be you?
Commitment is 7-9pm on a Tuesday to be here alongside the exiting team and the young people. Team are happy to lead. Your presence (and maybe some tidying up) is all that is required. You will get to know and love the young people spending time with them too, I am sure!
On the day of Pentecost Peter spoke and quoted the prophet Joel. Speaking about the pouring out of the Spirit of God, he said:
“Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams” (Acts 2:17)
God is doing a new thing.
I have been encouraging the team in the paraphrased words of John the Baptist “less of us and more of him”, and that is what we are seeing. Growth and transformation.
Come and bring your dreams.
Come and see the visions.
No such thing as too much of a good thing.
And this…is….good!
Amen
Doug
Vicar@christchurchpurley.org.uk
NB: as with all volunteer recruitment to roles with under 18s and vulnerable adults, Youth Assistants will be recruited under Safer Recruitment including DBS, references and confidential declarations as well as safeguarding training.
WHATS WITH ALL THE FLAGS?