Most athletic and performing groups are competitive: there are only so many spots on the team or in the band, play, or performance. Our youth group meetings are deliberately cooperative. We face challenges as a group and engage in problems that require everyone's help to solve. In this way, we build the skills necessary to meet real-life challenges in school and the larger community.
We don't want everyone to have the same skills. Athletes, musicians, and other performers need specific skills to succeed in their group. But in youth group, we count on the fact that everyone adds something different.
We're Different from a Youth Service Organization...
We focus on building the skills necessary to be an active part of an international multicultural community made up of different types of people. We start with relationship skills like listening, conflict resolution, and showing respecting for others and ourselves because these skills help us to build an environment where we can have fun together, build lasting friendships and plan group activities and projects for the coming year.
We build skills through activities, games, discussion and service projects. Our service projects center on Jesus' challenges to build a loving community that includes everyone, feeds the hungry, advocates for the powerless, and shows a neighborly concern for people around the world.
We're Different and We Like It That Way!
We believe our group is stronger when different kinds of people find ways to talk, work and play together. We encourage everyone to share and express his or her unique talents.
Parents Are Important To Us
Parents are a big part of the group's success. As we explore different issues, we recognize that parents are important teachers. We give parents opportunities to join in our youth group events, service projects, and trips.
No, but there's a reason why you might want to. Our meetings are designed to build the group's ability to trust each other. Early in the year we spend time getting to know each other and building connections. Then we go through a series of trust-building activities in which youth group members need to trust each other – and find that they can. Many people believe that they can trust their friends with their safety, but the people in our group know it because they've experienced it.
Trust is important because it allows group members to share their ideas and opinions more freely: especially when we're discussing a topic with different sides. If you miss several meetings, you miss out on building connections that allow you to feel comfortable in a lively discussion or debate. Trust is also important because our group travels together and, when we're far from home, it's important for the leaders and the youth to know that they can count on each other.
Your participation in meetings and activities is the best sign of your commitment to the group. Our group travels at least twice each year. We want everyone to go and we do our best to see that everyone who has made a commitment to the group has that opportunity by providing supporting funds from our youth fund.