First impressions are huge ...
right?
 Well
many of us have the opportunity to make our first impressions soon
when our new students "move up" from the grade below. You know-when
the grade school kids finally move into the junior high class or when
the 8th graders move up to high school.
Do you do anything special?
Think of it like this. When's the last time you had 25 visitors all in
the same week? Many of these kids are just like visitors:
- They are nervous
- They feel like they don't know a
lot of the people
- They are evaluating if they even
want to come back
It's up to us to decide whether they
get back in the car with mom and say, "The High School group
rocked!" ... or "Please don't make me ever go back!"
Which will it be?
Making the Transition Pleasant
I've seen numerous ideas when it comes to welcoming new "graduated"
students into the youth group. Creative ceremonies, fun "get to know
ya" games, gift packages, etc.
Regardless of what you do, try to accomplish two goals:
- Make them feel loved
- Provide a program that they want
to come back to
Make 'em Feel Loved
The most important goal would be to make them feel loved. I've seen
groups plan what they thought would be "fun" programs where they
"roasted" or embarrassed new 7th graders. Their intentions weren't bad
... they just didn't think. A 7th grader is one of the most insecure
beings on the planet. It took all of their strength to just walk
through the door into our program. And their worst nightmare would be
for everyone to laugh at them.
So use this day as an opportunity to make them feel welcomed,
appreciated and even respected. Here are some ideas to achieve that
goal:
- Give each new incoming "graduate"
a gift package with some cool candy or prizes as well as flyers to
upcoming events, a summer calendar, etc.
- Assign an upper classman to each
incoming "graduate" that attends that day. Meet with your upper
classmen prior to youth group and excite them about the opportunity
to make this new student feel welcome. Give a few minutes for the
upper classman to get to know their kid a little bit. Then have
every upper classman stand up one at a time and introduce the new
person.
- Every adult staff person should
try to greet EVERY incoming "graduate" before or after this youth
group. I know that sounds difficult ... but imagine the results.
Each incoming "graduate" will receive a welcome from an upper
classman AND several adults. Can't beat that with a nightstick!
Deliver an Exciting Program
Not only do we want to make them feel loved, we also want to provide a
program that they want to come back to. This week isn't the week to
try out a new volunteer who wants a shot at speaking. This isn't the
week that you forget to plan your message and cram five minutes
before. Of all weeks, bring you're "A-game" this week.
Do your best to plan an exciting program with fun activities,
exhilarating worship, and a dynamic, relevant message. Here's some
ideas to achieve that goal:
- Use a funny MC who really can keep
your program flowing from one element to the next.
- Give away some fun prizes ... use
any excuse: birthdays, longest hair, tallest kid (don't do shortest-
remember, we don't want to risk embarrassing them), anyone who
brought their Bible, etc.
- Play an exciting mixer. I say
"mixer" because everyone's involved and they help people mingle. (CLICK
HERE for our MIXER page)
- Announce all the upcoming
activities, maybe using creative video or skits. Make sure every kid
gets a calendar.
- Give kids an opportunity to sign
up for "e-updates" ... email updates of all your upcoming activities
and programs.
- Encourage them to bring their
friends back!
- If you do worship songs, don't go
too long. This might be the first time for some of these kids.
- Bring in a special speaker or work
extra hard on a dynamic talk for this particular week.
A Window of Opportunity
Let's face it. There are far more students in our community sleeping
in on Sunday morning than in church. On "graduation" week ... we have
a window of opportunity to try to keep the kids we got, and excite
them about bringing their friends. We have the chance to make an
eternal difference in the lives of students. Make it count!
Jonathan McKee is president of The Source for Youth Ministry and
author of the new book "Do They Run When They See You Coming?
Reaching Out to Unchurched Teenagers." (CLICK
HERE FOR THE BOOK)
Jonathan
speaks and
trains across the
country and provides free online resources, training, & ideas for
youth workers at
www.TheSource4YM.com |
