Teenagers are like Seagulls

Throw some food out and they will swoop. Food is a good tool in youth ministry. If you run a Christian group in a school, bring hot chips and bread every week. If you run a youth group, kick off with dinner, finish with supper. If you’ve got a small group bible study, junk food is essential.

Teenagers are like seagulls

Food is a good way to break ice. It’s awkward trying to get a year 7 boy to stop running around and have a conversation. Put some food in his hand and it removes weirdness.

pic from flickr

10 Replies to “Teenagers are like Seagulls”

  1. “Junk food is essential”.

    No. It is not. Food might be, but I’d be pretty ticked off if you were feeding my kids junk.

  2. haha!!

    1) i’m kinda speaking in hyperbole.
    2) i’m talking about teenagers not kids
    3) i’m a big fan of carrots and celery and fruit for arvo tea/supper. teenagers dig that too!
    4) the group i’ve got on sunday arvo’s always brings junk food!! it’s sometimes a bit much!!! you and drew are more than welcome to provide some well cooked healthy treats for us each week ;)

  3. 1) good!
    2) I meant ‘if my kids were teenagers’. And knowing some of the mums I’ve met, it could be a big hindrance to them letting their kids (or teenagers) attend a youth group or small group – and in these “obesity epidemic” hysterical times, I reckon that could be the case more and more.
    3) good!
    4) sure, I’ll send you an invoice :P

  4. 2) i’d be interested to hear more about hysteria! my observation was that most people didn’t care… hence the epidemic! but it’s probably good to have a little hysteria… as long as we don’t end up with a whole generation of Bubble Boys!
    4) budget is $4 a week. not per kid. but total. thanks ;)

  5. speaking as a mum of teenagers, i’m happy for them to eat whatever when they are out. I’m happy they are going to church and i know i can always send snacks as in dips and bread or something. i am easygoing but care much more for their spiritual than the occasional junk food. (no offense meant to anyone!)

  6. None taken. I was referring to non-Xian mothers I know.

    I’d still be ticked off, but I’d just encourage the leader to provide more sensible food options, or send some with the kids.

  7. great idea to have a roster with the kids taking stuff, I know mine love Sushi and other healthy things and even usually gravitate to these when given the opportunity. Pototoes with fillings are another great supper.

  8. Hi,

    Just want to say that I totally agree with the article. A schoool lunchtime group I know takes hot chips along each week – it’s called Hot Chips and Jesus.

    I disagree with Michelle’s point. For teenagers, parents aren’t going to be an issue with attendance. If the teen goes along and feels awkward, they’re not going to come back. If there is no awkwardness present, they’re much more likely to take the Gospel in. Besides, teens run around so much, any energy from the junk food is used up really fast. All youth groups I’ve attended did more running around than sitting still.

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