Atmosphere and Student ministry
I recently had someone share something very interesting with me about the atmosphere of a youth room. A student walked in The Underground (our youth room) for the first time ever and made the statement, "this is not what I expected when walking into a church." I have thought a lot about the idea of the "feel" when walking in a room. That student made a decision about us within Seconds of being in the room. The best part of all is this student has not missed a wednesday night since. I feel that a church needs to have a feel of comfort when a person walks through the door. A student ministry works the same way. That night this particular student walked into a room with loud music, moving colorful lights, and students just hanging out as if it were a weekend hang out. These students are playing games and having fun weekly in an environment that is inviting and some what "night clublish" for lack of a better phrase. The difference though from the weekend hang out or night club is what takes place once they are inside. These students are hearing the word every week. I feel it is important to create an atmosphere that is exciting to students and acts as a place they would want to go and hang out. With all that said, Student ministry is constantly evolving at a rapid rate. Just because that works today, may not mean it works tomorrow. To be successful in student ministry, it is important to meet these students where they are and bring them along. Student ministry is completely different from when I was there and I have only been out 10 years. The way our generation was ministered to is not an option for todays teens. Student ministry is constantly changing, but the STORY stays the same. An atmosphere that gets there attention and draws them in so they can here that God sent his son to die on the cross for their sins.
posted by Kadcock @ 1:30 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
It actually sounds a great deal like home staging. Most realtors know you can essentially lose a buyer before they even step foot inside the house. The landscaping, the porch, even the color of the front door can make a huge difference. And once they step inside, it needs to feel like a place they can see themselves living in. It needs to feel like home.
Choosing a home church isn't much different than choosing a place to live. Whether we like to think it or not, we buy houses based on emotion. We pick our churches that way, too. Whether it's youth or newlyweds or senior adults, it's all about a "feeling." Much of that feeling does come from the atmosphere.
But the members makes a huge difference, as well. "Do I want what they have?" "Do I want to be like them?"
It's true. First impressions are important. It's crucial to draw people in and make them feel comfortable. But getting them to TOTALLY "buy in," to accept Jesus and to want to become members of the Body of Christ, that's the key.
You're right, though. It all starts with getting them through the front door. And, these days, that's gotten much, much harder.
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