One word that will increase the attendance and retention at your youth programs.
Ownership.
Take a moment to reflect on the times in your life that you were a part of something bigger than yourself that you had a hand in creating. Think of a project you helped design, a logo you helped create, a talk, sermon or speech that you gave that you loved giving.
I would venture a guess that in all those instances you had ownership. You had something that was yours to contribute. You were more motivated to work on it, more motivated to turn up at meetings for it, more motivated to see it out to the end.
Youth need the same thing. In fact, they need it more.
Over the course of their lives, adults have learned that there are some jobs you do just because, even if they aren’t your best thing to do. Some places you go, some activities you plan (if you’re married, on top of being an adult, you definitely know some of these places and activities).
Young people just won’t show up. There may be a handful of the dedicated few who come because their parents have already instilled in them that you do things you don’t want to do sometimes because you have to, or more likely their parents make them.
But ask yourself – do you want a youth group of teens who have to be there?
Wouldn’t your work be more rewarding if they wanted to be there? Wanted to hold fundraisers to buy that program game system? Wanted to go volunteer at that soup kitchen?
If you want to see attendance and retention improve in one easy step: Give youth ownership.
Question: What’s one word you would say improved the attendance and retention in your youth programs? Let us know in the comments below.
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