Tonight we’re planning a big event. We’re opening up the doors to The Refinery for a fun costume dance, pumpkin carving, food, games and a crazy maze. There won’t be a message, there won’t really be any formal spiritual moments – planned ones, at least.
I’m calling it a “threshold” event, where our main goal is to get students into our building for the first time. They’ll get an invitation card to HSM when they leave, their wristband has the weekend service times printed on it, and in the future they’ll will always have “been there before” which is a big plus. We’ll make sure to get contact information when they sign in, and I suppose we will possibly contact them once or twice inviting them back for a weekend service or to a next step event.
Someone once said that, “evangelism is the whole process by which people who are missing get found.” I really like that – evangelism isn’t just someone verbally explaining the Gospel to someone – it is everything from the first step inside church to the moment someone begins their life in Christ.
I’m excited about tonight, as many students for the very first time and step inside our church. I’m excited because when there is a crisis, they know we’re here and we care. I’m excited because we’ll be starting relationships with new students that don’t know Jesus. I’m not sure when or where they’ll actually accept Christ, but I’m excited to think they’ll be taking their first step toward Him tonight.
JG
Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 15+ years and serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church. [
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Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
Awesome thoughts…I totally copied and it and reposted on my blog, with all credit to you, of course.
As someone who works with youth in a much smaller church than yours, I appreciate the way you, Kurt, and others so freely share your knowledge, ideas, and plans. Learning from people already doing it sucessfully, but doing it far away is one of the reasons I love the internet. Thanks again!
@Rob … you bet! Thanks for the kind words, man.
JG
i think it’s a great idea. would love to do it…don’t think it’ll fly at our church though. i think we would have a lot of people fight it. would it work at some of the readers churches?
We currently do this thing called The Great Pumpkin Hunt. It is a scavenger hunt that takes place all over the city. We have adults ask about this event all year long wanting to either drive kids, or be ‘pumpkin guards’ who give out the next clue. We do it on the Wednesday before halloween because our students help out at the fall festival for our young kids.
Because both of these things are tradition I don’t know if something like that would fly at our church…but it sounds like a really cool idea.
How’d it go Josh?
It was amazing … great attendance … going to become an annual event, I think. Exhausted, though.
JG
We do “Threshold” events and have found little numerical success from it, but great community presence. I always say that these events give us a presence in the area and so if someone needs a church, or someone to talk to, I have established at least a presence–if not some relationships!