Youth at church...Well, I'm not sure where it is going.

In the last few months, I've been thinking more and more about the Youth at Church, about Gods plan, and about the whole state of it. I've been listening more, picking up on vibes, listening to rants, and comparing to how things were.

Take for example, Ignite.
And yes, I do mean Ignite. You go from RNA, on a friday night filled with weird organised games that are fun for most of the people who go, with tuck at the end. But towards the end of the years you can go, you get bored slightly. I mean, its a great group, but its becomes a little patronising towards the older years. Thats kind of where the problems begin. Because before I went to Church, there used to be DNA, the next one on, which was a do-it-yourself RNA. Which was fine. But they stopped it, for whatever reason. So the only option then, was Ignite.

Which I think was way too presumptuous of the church to begin with. It was dominantly christian, whereas RNA was barely. It assumed that once people reached that age, there was no point in bothering with outreach, because they were all either Christians at that point, were uninterested in continuing, or would be forced to continue.
Okay, some of it was socialising, but the majority who went were from Christian families. Before, of course, noone came any more.

So the church changed, which is something I would usually admire. Church has to change. Its when it sticks in its ways that the problems begin. Only somehow, GBC miraculously manages to cause problems even when it abides by my change theory.

Because theres always been this worry...Because, leader-wise, we have a few, but to be honest, Abe is the only one who still bothers to talk to us, and as awesome as he is, he isnt around alot, doesnt really talk to girls well, and is leaving =(

And after Abes mum died, we realised this sudden shortage, when there were massive issues with leaders at soul survivor. So we had Debbie and Brett, who none of us really knew, or had spoken to.
Thankfully, they were actually amazing. They weren't youth leaders, so we could talk to them about how we actually felt about church, that Ignite was minimal, specialist, and had no appeal. We couldnt bring friends, there was nothing challenging, and all of our ideas were going ignored.

To be honest, noone actually expected them to listen.

So anyway, suddenly, things start happening, Adrian tells us about this Furnace and Crucible idea.

Furnace is a monthly youth service held in Godmanchester School for all of the Youth at GBC.
And To be TOTALLY HONEST I think its a little bit young. Alot of the younger lot would rather mess around than listen, yet the talk is aimed at them so to involve as many as possible. Granted, i have missed the last two, but having been to every other, and had to force myself to enjoy it by dancing like an idiot...
Its a good idea, it is, its just not enough for the older lot, older both spiritually and physically.

Crucible is where cracks start appearing. The idea is that its a cell group designed for us, to replace ignite, and is supposed to be alot better than ignite was.
And to be honest, It could have been. I think it started well, and I think it could become even better. Its just...Too fuzzy around the edges.

The idea was that we'd all be friends who could rely on each other, spiritually and emotionally and so forth. And to be honest, its just Ignite but with a bit more structure and food at the end.

Its also been, for want of a better word, Hijacked. At first I was so thankful that Adrian finally took an interest in us, what with the impending loss of Abe, but its kind of just thrown into focus that he prefers the Decaf group to ours, as he takes a full interest in them (because they're his pet project, the ones who won him an award, etc. I dont begrudge what he does, because its amazing, but it irks me that he pretends to make an effort with us). He's also forgotten we existed with Soul Survivor, because he's now put us with decaf, and said he's only taking us in good favour. When, we would much rather go together in the group that we know and trust.
This annoys me most.That we are apparently the result of some grand favour he has done us.

Okay, i know its iffy to get huffy over this...But it seems as if he is only helping us to get recognition rather than Godly influence.

Now i love Adrian. I do, he's amazing, and he's great for the church. I just wish that we had a full on leader, who would take control of our groups, who we could talk to and ask for help with. Though Jamie is amazing and i thnk this is a great experience for him, we need someone less close to our age, because it just feels like one of us is taking the evening.

So really, I'd love for a new youth pastor who gave a crap about everyones slowly-dying faith. One that united us and had a laugh with us and that we would talk to.

I would love more than anything for that to be Andy. But realistically, its not going happen. Its unfair on his wife, who doesnt want to move, and his kids, who will hate it.

But to be honest, he's the kind of guy that we want.

But we're not going to get anyone till september, and knowing GBC's indecisiveness, it'll be another year before we actually have anyone. Sighh.

There are a few upsides though =)

Firstly, Debbie and Brett. Are somewhat awesome. Remember our Soul Survivor complaints? We thought they would stick around for Soul Survvor and then blend back into church =( But they came to Crucible. They chat to us at church. And out of their own time, they created Rendevous.

Which is (i think, but being grounded i havent been able to find out) a new better version of what i thought DNA to be.

I dont know. I know alot of people are bugged by these happenings in church, and to some extent, I am too. I mean, I knew when i joined the church, after I prayed about it, I knew that I had to wait for three things to happen before church got better. The first, Im pretty sure, was Emily and her leaving. It kicked GBC up the butt. The second, was the arrival of John Smith. Who listens to us and takes views into account. His services are amazing also. The third?
II dont know yet. I think it will be Abes leaving, as another kick up the butt. But im not sure I want to stay around to see any more.

It doesnt bother me in the sense i want to run and fight for change. If it calls for it, then i will. But to be honest, church has never really helped me up, with the exception of John Smith. Youth stuff just doesnt work for our age at GBC, so im not sure if i should bother continuing. GBC just cant do it.

I have sufficiently ranted.
End.