Tag Archives: Big Events

"Big Events" (III)

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Relationships between leaders and kids struggle to be built.

Considering the one-off event is just that, an event for one night, it is a struggle for youth leaders to build relationships with kids. There is only 2-3 hours where the kids and leaders are mixing, if they actually do, and at the end they kid has gone. Obviously there needs to be proper follow-up afterward and also the gathering of contact information for other things.

But again, on the night there is not much relationship building. It is most likely that all the youth leaders are busy involved in the night, whether that be on music, sound, running games, looking after the food etc. It is hard to have enough leaders to do that let alone have people sitting around and talking to the kids. Which, i might add, is probably the most important thing you can do, rather than checking whether there are enough cans of coke for everyone.

So, on the night it becomes a struggle to chat to kids and build relationships. They are having a great time, no doubt about that, but where is the investment in the lives of the young people? Where is the growing in faith and discipleship coming from if there is no relationship with the youth leader?

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"Big Events" (II)

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The kid who rocks up gets given everything on a plate.

From the beginning to the end a “Big Event” is meant to be attractive. That is its main aim, to attract young people so that they can hear the message of Jesus. This is great, young people around the world need to know the Gospel, but the “Big Event” can produce a culture which is me-focused rather than God-focused.

As soon as the youth leader has the idea to run one for these events everything is done so that the kid can come and enjoy themselves without feeling any pressure of commitment or ownership. They just need to walk up to the entrance, pay their $5 or whatever, walk in the door and then there are a multitude of games, DVDs, music, food and a message all given to them on a platter. The kid can walk in and walk out never to be seen again.

With a one-off event such as these there is definitely the advantage of the kid actually coming and hearing the Gospel. No doubt. And, you never know what their response may be, they may decide to follow Him. I recognise this and so do not want to make it sound as if every one-off “Big Event” has been useless and is useless. However, i want to us to understand that there may be better ways to bring people to Jesus than a “Big Event” and that growing disciples requires more work than just putting on a one-off event. Jesus himself invested in his disciples, he didn’t just throw them a “Big Event”. The disciples were required to uphold their end of the bargain too, there is a sense of ownership and commitment to Jesus. A “Big Event” doesn’t seem to produce that kind of commitment in people, it is only through relationship building and regular contact that it will occur.

"Big Events" (I)

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The youth leader puts all their resources into one basket.

The amount of time and energy spent on organising these “Big Events” is astronomical. Many hours, along with blood, sweat and tears, are poured into these events that occur, at most, 4 times per year. The amount of time it takes to gear up for the event, do the event and then recover from such an event takes its toll on those involved. Rather than putting a steady amount of energy into something that continues week after week, month after month there is an explosive amount of energy put in 4 times a year.

The ministry becomes something like a 100m sprint. Like a sprinter the youth leader and the ministry can only handle doing short stints at one time. It seems that youth ministry needs more marathon runners than sprinters if the overall ministry is going to bring about more mature disciples of Jesus.