This article is a simple ‘how-to’ manual of setting the stage for an atmosphere of growth, targeted at those youth who have had a major conversion at a retreat, camp, or conference and want more.  I can hopefully provide a few simple ways to begin something in your parish along with some other tips as well.

Adult Support

The first thing you should seek out is a caring adult that can mentor those few youth that are fired up.  It must be an adult that the youth can feel comfortable sharing with and an adult that will be invested in what the youth want.  They do not necessarily need to commit to do everything and be at everything, they just need to be there to disciple those youth and love them through the difficulties and temptations that come with the return home.  Finding this adult will send a message to the youth that the parish cares, but will also be the stable factor when the youth start to struggle at times.   Having adults go with youth to big events is a great way to set this up beforehand.

A Time & A Place

The next thing you want is for there to be a consistent time and a place for these youth to meet, pray, talk, or whatever they want to do.  The adult should organize this time and make sure they can be at it consistently and find another caring adult to sub when needed.  It could be at a coffee shop every Sunday afternoon or in the youth room.  What happens is the youth develop a stable relationship with an adult that they connect to the church.  You do not need to worry about ‘starting a youth group’ right away.  God will take care of that.  You must nurture what you have and then let the seeds spread from there.   If it is of God and you allow the open invitation, it will grow and you will see the fruits.  Keep it light, keep it simple, remember to pray, and always look for opportunities to challenge and love those who are there.

Food is Good

Very simple.  Wherever you meet, whatever you do.  It must include food.

Watch It Grow

I can share with you what I did when I was in this situation.  There ended up being about eight youth that would meet in my house every week.  We would sing some worship songs, pray, and do a short lesson.  All of the youth could fit on one couch and it was a very tight group.  I spent a couple of month teaching on evangelization and encouraging the youth to invite others, but they would not do it.  We had a tight knit group and they did not want to lose that.  So I started reaching out myself.  I decided to invite a couple people each week and watch how the group responded.  It was very interesting to watch them grow through it.  The group grew and they realized that I was not going to be able to have the same relationships with them that I did before. Some understood what was happening and others did not.  Either way, it was what God wanted.

In Closing

You should not be concerned with ‘Starting A Youth Group’ because you have a couple of fired up youth.  You MUST nurture them first.  What happens if you don’t is that they are put on this pedastal that even their peers believe them to be on.  The second they start struggling, it caves in on them and you may lose them forever.  The evil one wants nothing more than to crush what our Lord has begun.

If you want tips on what to do from here, I recommend the series Starting A Youth Group From Scratch.

Loving and serving

Jesus, Others, Yourself

In that order

75 Bible Verses to cut up and have youth look up for games and etc.