Youth Group: Pizza & Roller Coasters? Yep, and it is even way better than that

Jesus is beyond exciting and our youth can be and many are dynamic disciples of Christ!  CruX Student Ministries is all about encouraging students in this endeavor.  Sadly there is a common philosophy of youth ministry says that youth groups are a place where adults attempt to provide youth with so much fun that they won't leave the church when they grow older and maybe they'll be good Christian kids too.  Some have referred to this as "Pizza and Roller Coaster" youth ministry.  This model assumes Jesus isn't very exciting and that we can't hope or expect that kids can know, love and follow Jesus passionately. The focus is all on fun and very little on on the truth of who God is and the good news of His Gospel.

All of our youth are searching for happiness as they learn to navigate our messed up world.  We have a ton of hope to offer them.   Scripture points to Jesus as the ultimate source of joy, peace and purpose.    As the philosopher Blaise Pascal observed, 

"All men seek happiness. This is without exception. Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and of others avoiding it, is the same desire in both, attended with different views. They will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of every man, even of those who hang themselves."

As our kids seek happiness they need direction and hope.  If Jesus is as amazing as the Bible promises, and of course, He is, then it makes sense for youth group to be all about introducing our youth to Jesus.  If sin is the source of all of the pain in our world, and it is, then is in the best interest of our youth that we introduce them to the antidote, to One who saves us from sin and who makes sense of our confusing broken world.

Our youth are listening and watching us. They want what is real. They want to know the real truth... sometimes.  There is clearly a spiritual war going on.  The world, the flesh and the devil are competing for their hearts.  They are throwing everything at our kids promising kingdoms of joy and happiness all the while delivering pain and  brokenness.  Even so they have some pretty convincing material.  By God's grace we win!  We have the opportunity to share the Way, the Truth and the Life to our kids that promises eternal joy and life and He delivers.  

In our CruX Student Ministries we are working hard to share the reality of Jesus with our kids.  We study scripture to know our God of the Bible, to learn who He is and what that means for us.  Our hope is that each and every kid who comes to our gatherings becomes "someone who worships Jesus, is changed by Jesus and obeys Jesus' commands" and all of this because of the joy Jesus gives them.  We worship together in song and in serving each other.  We have fun and we pray for each other.  We serve those around us. If our kids love Jesus then they are the church and the church hangs out together.  We like to call it fellowship.  Sometimes pizza and roller coasters are a great way to fellowship.  We have tons of fun because Jesus is awesome and has set up free. We have fun because we love each other and we want others to experience the love the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5).  

The secret is out of the bag.  We love Jesus, worship him and pizza and all-nighters can be a wonderful way to celebrate.  Jesus is the one who brings us together so we have fun. We love each other in the good times and the bad.  We eat pizza and donuts. We laugh and cry. It is good to work with students!