Over the last month I have asked questions about what WAY is on about and why might we call it “Youth Church.” As I have been thinking through this, a great question was asked this week from a teen about what ministry to invite friends to? It’s a great question because outreach is at the heart of what we are called to do.

As we think about mission and our youth, we all recognise its importance. Growing deeply in our love for Jesus is formed out of mission and leads to more mission. We deprive our youth if we don’t partner with them in gospel work.

I want to see outreach flourish with our teens. Wouldn’t it be great if each term we had specific opportunities targeted at inviting friends? These events, maybe we call them parties (or something else), provide an opportunity for teens to focus on bringing friends and cement a culture of mission.

The concept is nothing new at WAY. But we plan well for these events. They look different to a normal night, and we prepare our teens to invite and engage their friends. And then afterwards, reflect on how we can do it better next time. We would build up to these nights and seek to follow up teens afterwards. They are fun evenings but with the goal of something much deeper.

Teens that own something on Friday nights and want to bring their friends to is what I desire. Teens thirsty to know God and fired up to talk about the gospel with their friends. I’m sure we all long for this.