How to Attract Youth to Youth Group
More Proven Marketing Tips for Catholic Youth Groups
Greece, Yea it was fun.
Let’s face it…Youth groups in the Catholic Church are usually small; however, here are some sure methods of bringing more youth to youth group. Try them and tell me how they work for you!
1. Speak from the Pulpit. Right after all the Masses in the Fall and Spring speak from the Alter. Short, 2.5 minutes long and simply say (very enthusiastic ((I always wore a suite) “ Hi my name is Jason Buck and I am the youth minister at (insert Church). I am very excited to invite all the youth tonight to come our annual youth group kick off night. It will be filled with food, fun, and faith. So if you like food, (insert a pause maybe a little laugh), fun, and faith (all with pauses) come on out at 7pm. We have a large number of youth from the parish who participate all ready. I will be in the vestibule giving out more information. Thanks and see you there.”
Collect names and email addresses.
2. Get rid of the objection. Never ask, “Do you want to come to youth group?” because the answer is always “no.” Instead ask, “Does pizza, sports, and a ton of young people sound like fun to? Ok I will see you at youth group tonight, insert name.” If they say no, say, “What don’t you like pizza or making new friends?”
3. Bulletin Announcements for the parents. When you insert a bulletin announcement make sure to tell how much fun your last event was and how much greater this one is. It is good for the parents and parish to stay informed about the youth group.
4. Posters with Pictures. Place posters in the vestibule of Church with pictures showing how much fun the youth group is having.
5. Go to School. Make friends with the theology teachers, help out with retreats, and make a little nitch. The school can send out your information and put you in contact with the teens. Remember you must offer something to the teens and teachers if you want something in return. Don’t forget the home school crowd.
6. Offer Incentives. With the group of 20 you have to create an incentive for each person to bring one more person. That makes 40. Double that you will be making history.
More Tips
1. Use zoho.com CRM to keep track of your youth group.
2. Create a website using wordpress.org or finding a youth to manage it.
3. Always collect email addresses
4. Don’t use myspace.com
5. Read articles and constantly update yourself. Don’t be an authority, just be informed.
Any of these tips could work for other parish ministry organizations. Just be like Jesus and go out to talk with people. If you have to, perform some miracles in His name.
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about 5 months ago
Hey Jason,
Your “contact” form doesn’t work so I thought I’d comment on this excellent post.
I’m a fellow FUS grad (’07) and am now doing youth ministry in WA state. (I think we had some classes together).
I have a wonderful pastor here, but he can’t get involved at all with our program (which meets Wednesday nights). I’m wondering, in a situation like this, how can you incorporate Adoration into the youth group nights? I think that’s what’s greatly missing in our program (I’ve found a lot of great ideas at your site… thanks!) but am kind of tied as to how to start it.
Also, there’s no youth-centered music ministry in this parish at all. I play the piano quite well but can’t really sing and the kids are thoroughly un-interested in Praise and Worship music. I’d like to incorporate it more, as I think it really fosters true worship, but should it be slowly forced upon ‘em or should I give up the ghost?
Thanks!
Angele
about 5 months ago
Angele,
Great to hear from you. Thanks for visiting the site, and I will have to check on the contact link.
Depending on the norms of your diocese you can be appointed as an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister to place the Eucharist in the monstrance for adoration. If not, ask if your deacon can come and do it for you., If not again, find a newly ordained priest, make friends with him, and ask if He will come and help you out.
But I am pretty sure norms of the Church allow for an assigned lay person to place the Eucharist out for exposition.
Also, you can still do praise and worship without adoration.
I’ll write an article about this in the next week or so with more details.
Second
The fastest way to get over normal hesitations or nervousness to Praise and Worship or even encountering the Lord is to A. Bring in another music leader who is a pro to lead praise and worship.
B. Go on retreat or somewhere else and experience it. Once a few of the youth get to know Jesus in Adoration, the rest will also come to know him.
C. Start with 15 minutes of prayer, rosary, scripture, and slowly build up to longer times. If you look at the youth ministry lessons from September I didn’t even start with Adoration Yet. It takes a whole lot of time.
God Bless and keep up all the great work! Subscribe for Updates because I will put some articles up about this topic.
Does this help?
about 5 months ago
Angele:
Great question. I remember seeing Jason at a local parish. During the week they would have Adoration. One night I decided to go see what this was like with him and the youth group at Adoration. I don’t think I will ever forget Jason standing on the side of the chapel with his guitar and some others singing. I had never been to Adoration with music before that. It was a really special time and I felt so close to Jesus.
I agree with his post in finding a good music person. And play some of those Stubenville songs.