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Q&A
What are your recommendations for a church of approximately
800 members regarding the sixth graders? My 11-12 year old feels too old
for the childrens department and the youth department serves seventh-12th
grade. This results in a great degree of apathy about attending church
activities on Wednesday evenings. Sunday School is not a problem. Thank
you.
Shannon Templeton
Raleigh, N.C.
Answer from Jan Cartledge, guest editor of the Biblical
Recorder's Youth Page.
Shannon,
Thanks for the question you sent to the Biblical Recorder. I appreciate
your concern for sixth graders and their place in the church.
Many churches struggle with this issue. Sixth graders struggle with where
they fit in. Churches are especially having to deal with this dilemma due
to sixth graders being in middle schools.
Many churches do not include sixth graders in the youth area for several
reasons:
There is a great difference in sixth graders and 12th graders.
Their needs are different.
The issues they face and need to deal with are different.
It is difficult to speak to the needs of 12th graders when sixth
graders with different needs are present.
Though I know that many groups have separate middle school and high
school ministries, there are times when the group meets together as a
whole. It has been my experience that sixth graders often feel more out of
place when placed with the larger youth group. Much of the Bible study and
conversations are far above them.
No matter where sixth graders are in the public schools, they are still
learning and thinking on a sixth-grade level. Sixth graders think in
concrete terms so they need activities and curriculum that do not use the
abstract.
Sixth graders also need more social activities because they are social
beings. They also need activities that are appropriate for their age.
I would suggest planning some special activities, just for the sixth
graders in your church. This will help them feel that they are special,
there will be something planned just for them, and they will interact and
relate with friends their own age. Sixth graders like small groups because
they are still somewhat insecure.
Studies and statistics have shown that too much involvement by sixth
graders in the larger youth group sometimes causes the older youth in the
group to drop out because they can not relate to these younger youth.
Most sixth graders do have the physical characteristics of teenagers but
do not have the emotional maturity or stability to function in the youth
ministry program.
I would suggest that you plan activities just for the sixth graders,
appropriate for their age. Plan Bible studies that utilize concrete
thinking and much physical activity. Utilize small groups as much as you
can.
A good resource for a sixth-grade Sunday School class is "Everything you
always wanted to know about being a teenager." It is produced by LifeWay
Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn. Our church has been using this for
almost four years and the sixth graders love it. It is good material and
prepares the way for these youth to enter adolescence and the youth
ministry of the church. Take a look at it and see what you think.
Thanks for your question. I hope my feedback is helpful to you. My prayers
are with you as you minister with the sixth graders in your church.
Q&A
What homes or help is there in Guilford County, N.C. for
parents having real problems with their teens? This is a problem with all
authority figures,poor attitudes leading to self-destructive behavior.
Please advise.
Esther Dunn
Gibsonville, N.C.
Answer from Criag Bird, director of communications for Baptist
Children's Homes of North Carolina.
Hope for families and help for hurting children is
available all across North
Carolina from Baptist Children's Homes (BCH). BCH has 12 facilities across
the state
and is opening more this year.
Services at any of those facilities can be accessed by contacting any of
the
five area directors:
Lynn Garner, Thomasville, 336-474-1200
Tim Smith, Kinston, 252-522-0811
Larry Sawyer, Pembroke, 910-521-3433
Donna Lail, Lenoir, 828-757-3433
Reggie Gilmore, 828-627-9254
Information is also available from the BCH webstite: www.bchfamily.org. You can send e-mail
or request information from that site too.
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