Blank Canvass

tommyd · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 11:47 am Post subject: Blank Canvass

I have high hopes for the next 12 to 24 months! I am starting out as the "music guy" for our church youth group... I've been in a similar role as the guitar guy in a previous youth group at a previous church, and I eventually found myself fully involved in the youth program as an adult volunteer. Eventually the church began hiring interns who were adept at guitar and PW songs, so I took a back seat but stayed involved. We recently moved to a more rural area, and the chruch we joined has a "core" youth group which needs to grow. The director is part time, and I do the music. (Sorry this is getting long).

Well, the church lost its minister of 18 years this past May, and the congregation is really down in the dumps. Just two Sundays ago, I did "Awesome God" with the youth up front helping me sing it as I played on the accoustic... the congregation loved it. We need to bring this kind of worship to the church in a big way, but lil' ol me has next to zero experience. I'm really getting a kick out of reading all the posts of all the PW type stuff that goes on at your churches. I'd love to organize the youth into a PW group that could lead services. I know my youth director would support it, and the congregation would respond. Just need to figure out where to start and how to proceed. Just wanted to say thanks for the forum and I'll be checking in often. Very Happy

ACfixer · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 3:10 pm Post subject:

My prayers are with you Tommy. It can be a drag to lose a long time pastor but we know that God has a plan and a reason for anything. I know it sounds impersonal and corney but it's true Smile

Where to proceed... first with prayer of course! It's my experience (albeit brief) that people love upbeat and heartfelt worship. Remember, Moses had little experience and God used him in a big way because he was willing. Now get on with your bad self!!!

tommyd · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2003 4:28 pm Post subject:

Thanks! I'm pretty sure we can pull this off (us and Him). Anybody out there belong to a church doing a Sunday evening service in addition to Sunday morning? I'm thinking that six o'clock family style P&W led by the youth followed by a standard youth group meeting (youth only, soccer/capture the flag, other games, spiritual discussion, prayer, hanging out, etc). Does that kind of sequence work particularly well at other churches?

BTW this is a northeast church that probably hasn't seen too much of this kind of thing (but they're really gonna love it). Half the congregation is ex-coal-miner and the other half is a mix of middle class folks from all over. But we ALL hafta learn to sing to the Lord!

Yow... gotta grab my guitar and go learn some P&W stuff!

Shaggy · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:44 am Post subject:

Sorry man dont know exactly how to help you seeing as im not really part of a church at the moment..
But i just wanted to say my prayers are with you. It sounds like your working hard for this and like AC said, if your willing then the Lord will use you!!
Goodluck my friend. Remember you have the Lord on your side so Anything is possible!!
God Bless

markm2553 · Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2004 12:26 pm Post subject:

Sounds like the Lord has got big plans for you! I will keep your group in my prays.
There are several Churches in our area that do a Youth Service on Sunday night. From the Pastors I have spoken with they have mostly kids from the Church, and they bring guest when they can. It has worked well for most of them, I think 6 pm is what all of them do. We have a 6pm Service every Sunday night. Once a month it is our "Youth Service". The Youth Pastor leads the Service, and the teens and youth help with just about everything. BTW the offering during this Service goes to the Youth department funds.
Our main Youth Service each week is done on Wend. night. Our outreach is to local town kids that walk to Church, or we pickup with vans. Most all our regular Church kids also come to this Service. We devide the kids up by age, there is also an adult Prayer and Bible Study at the same time. As Youth Pastor I lead the teen service and Praise and Worship we read a chapter from the Bible each week, and discuss. Then play some game our "Mr. game" comes up with. We all have alot of fun, but make sure all the kids understand that God love's them, and Christ died for them. We have seen several kids won to the Lord, that don't come to Church any other Service.
We are slowly using P&W more and more in the main Service. In fact this very Sunday Night we are starting a special song Service with the hope of getting new people to try Church. The last Sunday of every month the evening Service will be a song Service, with a snack afterward. We have found many people will come to hear a friend or relative sing, that would not come to hear someone Preach. There will be alot of P&W, and as many kids singing as we can get.
Once those kids get used to singing in Church, their parents will invite so many people to come to Church, you can't hold them all! Hang on brother, sounds like God's got His hand on you!
And you thought you where running long...