Hey! Our church is starting a coptic youth group on campus and but there doesn't seem to be a committment from our youth. So i need suggestions: How to get the youth interested in contributing?? I tried almost everything!!
Also, we'll be giving out pamphlets to students at the info center... what should we include?
Any other suggestions?
God Bless.
Comments
It will prevent your response of "I tried that already" every time someone suggests an idea.
As for the pamphlets, you'll need to incorporate the focus of the group, the benefit for joining, place to meet, how to sign up, and deadlines. The front side of your pamphlet should have the name of the group (you'll need to come up with something more creative than Coptic Youth Group, I think), a catchy phrase, possibly a verse from the Bible, and an interesting picture-- preferably a Coptic one.
You might also want to add that you'll be providing snacks and drinks. It's an old trick that gets the youth to join stuff.
Whatever you do, DON'T turn it into a Protestant group.
If you plan on singing hymns during the meetings, choose them wisely. Tasbeha.org has a good selections of hymns (Mina still has to do some editing though).
It's best if you made it a "prayer group", instead of a "Bible study" group. My reason being is that most college students "don't have time" (aka forget) to pray... (Btw I'm in no way saying that this should REPLACE anyone's personal prayers, but rather ADDED to it). Also, group prayers are more powerful than individual prayers. The problem I see with having a Bible study group is that:
1. there is no wise or older mentor to watch over in case someone teaches wrong doctrine
2. Only Protestants interpret the Bible in their own way. Unless you print out lessons from suscopts or another trusted site, you will be doing JUST LIKE THE PROTESTANTS
3. No one wants to go to Sunday School during the week. The reason most youth aren't encouraged to join is bc they probably have the idea that will be a Bible lesson.
Remember, there are already TONS of "Protestant"/"Christian"/"Bible Study" groups at your University. Make sure your group STANDS OUT.
Along with the prayer idea, I also suggest having hymn class. If there is a well educated deacon amongst you, why not have him teach (something for lent) every once in a while?
This group should also be a service group. I highly highly highly highly highly recommend it. Highly.
You can set dates to clean the church, plan fundraisers, make appointments to visit the Hospital, set up kitchen soups..etc.
Service in church should not be forgotten. If you look back at "The Greatest Hits of ILSM", he clearly lays out all the work that needs to get done: http://tasbeha.org/content/community/index.php/topic,10589.msg128996.html#msg128996
I'll post more if I come up with anything else.
Cyril
-community service
-campus awareness
-hymns lessons
-coptic lessons
-prayer meetings
-sports
As TITL mentioned, Bible study would be difficult and unneccessary because we already have it in church.
Any suggestions on how to get more people involved??
If you can invite guest speakers or even the bishop of your diocese, that would be awesome.
God bless, Pay for me,
Cyril
The main thing Abouna Matthew (the Priest that organises ALL the Coptic Societies in all the universities Diocese-wide - so including interstate universities such as in Queensland, Orange, Wagga Wagga etc.) tells us to do is:
1. PRAY for the meeting
2. Have a set time every week but find out when students are mainly free
3. Have the meeting even if nobody shows up! This doesn't happen too often but some meetings have about 2-3 people show up a lot of the times. Other times it's like 20 or 30... depends on the time, place and the event.
4. FOOD plays a massive role, but you have to advertise well. We usually have BBQs after the fasts. Also bring lollies and "cool stuff" to every meeting!
5. Try to make sure at least 2 students come every week and try to make them bring other Coptic or even just Orthodox friends
6. Invite guest speakers such as priests or bishops, most of the time, but make sure it's not embarrassing for the speaker to find only 5 students lol
7. Liturgy on campus! Abouna tries to have one in almost every uni at least once a year or once a semester.
8. Give the meeting a name (hint: FOCUS) :)
9. If you have an excess of students and everyone's got crazy timetables you can have the weekly meetings on alternative days e.g. Monday on the first week and tuesday on the next and so on.
Please visit the FOCUS (Fellowship of Orthodox Christian University Students) group on Facebook to have a look at our previous events and upcoming events and have a look at our awesome photos, merchandise, logo and stalls: http://www.facebook.com/FOCUSATUNI
Father Matt has a dream of uniting FOCUS to a worldwide level... I'm not sure if any of you know about this, but there is a proposed convention in Honolulu for 2012 in mid year. I know he got the approval from the Bishops and priests who are associated with the Coptic Societies in the US. He also contacted a lot of the countries in Europe about this - as far as I know and remember. Not sure what's going on with this tho.
I have a lot of experience with FOCUS, if you have any more suggestions please ask!
Also regarding the types of things you guys do in meetings is quite different to what we do. lol
Our meetings in general could consist of a short prayer, short bible study done every week, a guest speaker at times or just social coffee after bible study. Meetings usually run for not more than an hour because students usually have class before or after.
Other activities are done outside the weekly meeting can range from ice skating, meeting for coffee outside of uni, BBQs etc etc.
Many times we also have combined FOCUS events with all the universities such as cruises near the harbour bridge, trips to St. Shenouda monastery in Putty, end of year outing to the beach etc.
As for Hymns lessons, and Coptic lessons? Never heard of any such Coptic society meeting consisting of these!
Let me know if I was of any help!
Cheers
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=373740113021&set=a.177209448021.125223.133898968021&pid=3826813&id=133898968021
Now that I look back at FOCUS last year, we've done better than I thought. Good times :)