Asking for ideas....

[faithwalkr]

I was wondering if I could get some help from some teens out there.

My church is interested in coming up with some alternatives for the youth to participate in at church during the same time as the schools are having dances. What kinds of things could a local church offer around you that would be more interesting than a school dance? I'm looking for ideas for any kind of dance, including proms. I would love to hear ideas from a teens perspective.

Thanks so much.

 

[StefanM]

I'm honestly not trying to be cynical, but I don't think much of anything is going to take people from prom except for those people who were never going in the first place.

 

[Kayla]

Well first of all I completely understand where you are coming from. Second just a few things, if your going to try to offer an alternative to the grand pomenade, it has to bible based or God will not bless it at all. You need to have good clean activities for the kids, volleyball is always great. I love a good game of volleyball. I like to play Bible Jeopardy but I am kinda a nerdy teenager. I mean I just like to use my brain.

And another thing offer to let someone to get a pie in the face or something if enough people come. Like the pastor maybe or the youth pastor. Seriously every year out bible school usually falls on the same night as a local fair with a carnival. And we compete with that every year and the pie thing gets them every time. I come to something to see my pastor get a pie in the face. Oh by the way, I never go to those anyway, I don't believe that we should temp ourselves with dancing.

 

[faithwalkr]

This year, at VBS, the youth minister said if they had 20 youth to show up for VBS, he'd shave his head. Then, the pastor agreed to have his shaved too if 30 show up.

They are now both bald.

 

[Kayla]

Hee hee hee, that is funny.

 

[God'sMusicGirl07]

Last year at VBS. We had two plates for offering. One was for the boys to put money in and the other was for girls to put money in. At the end of the week if the boys had the most money then a lady in our church got a pie in the face. If the girls got the most money then her husband got a pie in the face. Our faithful deacons got together at the end of the week and added money to the girls plate so it was equal to the boys so both of them got a pie in the face.

 

[Kayla]

Every year the girls win that at our VBS. And I usually get the girl pie vote so I have pied three persons, Including the Asst. pastor, Denny(one of the faithful in our church), and Myself (by force of two rather stubborn teenage boys.) Oh ok I have time let me share that story.

I was suppose to pie Denny, so I did that well Denny and I came up with a plan before that there was another pie and I was suppose to get George a boy in our church with the pie, well I decided to go after his friend Brad, who had been teasing me all week. So I then went toward him and he started to run and I chased him around our church two times then when I got to the front lawn the second time around George was standing right there, and he pushed the pie right back into my face. Quite eventful the children loved it. I am glad they did, the boys think came over and one of them grabbed some whipped cream off my face and told me it was tasty, then I grabbed a bunch off and shoved it in his face. The ladies in our church get the pie pans really full. hee hee hee.

 

[MissAbbyIFBaptist]

What could ya'll do? Have men of God preach the Word of God. That should be first and foremost. God blesses His word. It never returns void.
Other than that, some of what Kayla said. I've always enjoyed good fellowship, just being with other Christian people.
Although, I wouldn't look for an "alternative." We don't have to compete with the world. And for that matter Christian young people (Christians, period!) shouldn't be doing worldly things in the first place. Although, if you're trying to get the lost to come, I can understand that. Still, you don't have to go to new or extreme methods. Doing things God's way may not always be popular, but it's right, and the effects of it are more lasting than others. (that is an understatement! )

 

[StefanM]

If you want to take people away from prom, you're going to have to be over the top. . . WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY over the top.

You're going to have to think so outside of the box that you won't even be able to see the box.

My prom/post-prom featured free prizes for ALL seniors. People walked away with DVD players, refrigerators, etc. I'm not saying to do that, but that's the the kind of competition you're going to have. On top of that, tradition of prom is not easily broken.

 

[Kayla]

People in the world break tradition all the time...but in fact we are not suppose to be like the world eh?....There was no dancing before the 1600s between a man and woman, break that tradition you have indeed. So it was actually the promies that broke the tradition eh? Incidentally, Glad to see you back, Sister for the cause of Christ.

 

[StefanM]

Originally posted by Kayla:
There was no dancing before the 1600s between a man and woman, break that tradition you have indeed.

Prove this statement.

 

[mercytruth]

Attn: StefanM

In the Reader's Companion to American History, under the subtitle of Social Dance, you will find that men and women dancing together originated in the 1600s, when the Africans started to be taken as slaves. Before this time, it was only socially and morally acceptable with them to dance men-with-men and women-with-women. However, when America was just starting to be developed, and the Africans were brought as slaves, the Africans began to dance men-with-women, and the idea grew to the point that you see today-- seductive dancing.

However, even when the British subjects did start dancing men-with-women, they had to be a certain distance apart, so as not to induce sexual desires, which, unless you're gay, is the normal reaction to close contact with a member of the opposite sex.

Now, I can see you see no problem with dancing in today's society, but would you at least consider the idea?

 

[TexasSky]

Actually,

That history book isn't "quite" accurate.

Prior to the 1600's the word to describe what we call "dance" was "carol". A carol-promenade was something like the minuet of the 17th Century. Women would "promenade" to music on the right side of a man, opposite of where he wore his sword or weapon.

 

[StefanM]

It is not that I see NO problem with dancing; it's that I don't see a problem with EVERY kind of dancing. Some forms of dancing are by nature inappropriate, but I do not that all forms are.

 

[StefanM]

Originally posted by mercytruth:
Attn: StefanM

In the Reader's Companion to American History, under the subtitle of Social Dance, you will find that men and women dancing together originated in the 1600s, when the Africans started to be taken as slaves. Before this time, it was only socially and morally acceptable with them to dance men-with-men and women-with-women.

Even if this were true, it would only prove the contention for America. America is only one small part of the world.

 

[mercytruth]

My point was not in proving dancing, but that perhaps before you ask others to prove something, you should research it yourself.

As far as dancing goes, what is correct? Where do you draw the line? If you allow certain dances, then how can you choose what is correct and is not? A parent's actions are magnified in their children. If you allow, for example, waltzing, then what's to stop your teenage children from slow-dancing so close that an atom couldn't fit between the boy and girl?

I actually don't believe the Bible condemns ALL dancing, for David and Miriam both danced and praised the Lord. However, they didn't dance WITH anyone, and somehow, I don't find that God can be very pleased with what modern society calls dancing.

 

[StefanM]

Originally posted by mercytruth:
My point was not in proving dancing, but that perhaps before you ask others to prove something, you should research it yourself.

As far as dancing goes, what is correct? Where do you draw the line? If you allow certain dances, then how can you choose what is correct and is not? A parent's actions are magnified in their children. If you allow, for example, waltzing, then what's to stop your teenage children from slow-dancing so close that an atom couldn't fit between the boy and girl?

I actually don't believe the Bible condemns ALL dancing, for David and Miriam both danced and praised the Lord. However, they didn't dance WITH anyone, and somehow, I don't find that God can be very pleased with what modern society calls dancing.

I have a general familiarity with dancing's history, but I think the burden of proof lies with those who wish to condemn the practice.

As far as guidelines go, let the spirit be your guide.

 

[faithgirl46]

Originally posted by faithwalkr:
This year, at VBS, the youth minister said if they had 20 youth to show up for VBS, he'd shave his head. Then, the pastor agreed to have his shaved too if 30 show up.

They are now both bald.

LOL he he he

 

[faithgirl46]

What about having the kids gather the clothes they can no longer wear, books they aren't interested in, Bibles, and food to send to the home their church sponsors for others who are not blessed that they are? This is an excellent way to teach kids about faith and works and to appreciate the things that they have.