Youth Work: The importance of involving youth through the cell

I once counseled a member and she shared that she finally felt part of FCBC because she was involved in a TYL project. Through volunteering, she came to know more members of FCBC, SJ tribe etc. and THAT made her feel belonged. Yet interestingly, she wondered if she was being carnal because her sense of belonging was due to people/ friends.

3 important points to note:

1. The importance of involvement
If you do not engage your youth to do something for the cell or church, you are denying them the chance to feel part of the family. Just think of the first time you were given responsibility at home and school (carry text books for teachers, etc) and how that made you feel good. It is a very normal human need – the need to be able to contribute. When your youth can see themselves doing something, they feel more for the group or thing. Of course, in Service-Learning language, the task must be age appropriate bearing in mind their competence too. ... [+]

2. Is coming to church because of friends wrong?
Of course NOT!
We should be the walking signboard for God. If you are not one of the reasons why people come to church, you need to check your life. We are called to be witnesses for Him. We are His ambassadors, we are His fleshy representations to the lost world. People are drawn to God because of the messenger first. So we need to ensure our lives are clear reflections of God. Meanwhile, it is normal for some new members or even non-Christians to come to church because of you and your members. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Of course, over time, we need to build into their lives so that they come because of God. We should not be too idealistic that people come just because of the unseen God. They all need to see God in you.

3. G12 vision
Most of our members are very free and not engaged in church. That is because they are NOT in the vision of discipling someone. They are not in the G12 vision.
Why?
Our defective discipleship. We are not producing the RIGHT kind of disciples. We are not producing well because we are growing well. We are all consumed by our life-pressing issues, which are legitimate, but might have neutralised our effectiveness to be a fruitful vine. We need to return to God and cry for a renewed passion to make disciple again. Go for 12 and not settle with the few you have in your cell. Make them disciple-makers and not just mere cell members.

CSL