Church Potluck
Who doesn't love a church potluck? It's where all the members contribute with their specialties. It's delicious! It's that experience that inspires this page.
Myfamilytable recognizes that faith is homegrown, especially for youth. Parents are the primary disciplers of young people by God's design and the local congregation is an essential - but less influential - partner in nurturing youth in the Lord. The main course must come from the home, but all the sides and all the extras, that needs to come from all of God's people.
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On this page, we are putting dishes out there where the village of the church provide more critical helpings. You'll find material offered with three priorities in mind.
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#1 Parents: Solid Ground. See "On the Menu" and "Prayers" tabs above. Also, check out more about our philosophy on "Parents are primary!" under "Table Talk," "About," and "Home" tabs.
#2 Mentorship: Alongside Ministry. Did you know that mentors are the 2nd greatest influence on children next to parents, and especially at ages 17-19, when children step out into the world (college, work, etc.), it's mentors over parents that can be a critical factor in retaining youth in the church.
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#3 Meaningful Service: Youth Works! Did you know that the third priority in serving youth for retention purposes is involving them in the life of the congregation in meaningful service? It's true! More than exciting youth outings and programs, providing opportunities to work alongside youth and see them needed and flourish causes young people to say, "This is my church! I belong here. I am needed here!"
#4 Youth Programs: You guessed it. Sunday school, VBS, Confirmation, teen group, and the crown jewel of Christian Education among all other offerings which serve children God's Word directly at age appropriate levels in age segregated groups, is the fourth most effective way to retain youth. Our offerings here look to share ideas on how to invite parents, mentors, and volunteers to especially engage. We consider youth programming as setting the table so that we can serve children best with what the top three priorities deliver.
Assimilation by meaningful service. Youth progras.
#2 Alongside Mentor Ministry
CLICK HERE to gather some content on a possible approach to bring older members alongside younger members to assist the home in raising youth in the way they should go. This offering looks to keep in step with Paul's words to Titus:
#3 Youth Works!
CLICK HERE for possible ideas to walk with your youth from 7th grade through the first year out of high school in the hopes of assimilating youth into the adult life of the congregation through meaningful service. All the research points to this as a critical area to address: In developing relationships with our youth and emphasizing our appreciation for their gifts in service to God's people and the local community, they themselves report greater reason for remaining in the local congregation through ages 17-19 when most youth leave the church.
#4 Youth Programs
Under this section, we aren't hoping to just highlight any youth programs, so many of which are an end unto themselves. In other words, they don't necessarily set the table with invites for parents, mentors, and influential volunteers to connect with youth modeling the faith while offering a program. The content we offer here seeks to see priorities of parents, mentors, and meaningful service served in youth programs. For example, we won't offer a traditional approach to confirmation, but we will offer a parent led approach. As these programs are few and far between, please note this section is STILL UNDERCONSTRUCTION! Come back soon!
