The Bigger & Better Hayride

In the midst of watching Boston Legal last week I decided it was time to create the bigger and better hayride for the church.

It seems the church’s strategy to attract kids keeps revolving around, “If we can only offer something that is more fun than maybe they will show up.” Thus many churches keep thinking they need to compete with Disney, Viacom, AOL Time Warner, Sony and other media corporate giants that constantly study and create for the teen dollar. As Teens age, their yearly discretionary income increases from nearly $1,500 at age 12 to 13 to nearly $4,500 by age 16 to 17. As a group, Teens of all ages spent a projected $112.5 billion dollars in 2003.

Maybe the church doesn’t need to compete. Maybe the church offers something different that is attractive to teens. Maybe the church offers something less plastic, something that isn’t out there but that is in the soul. My assumption is that teens are not nearly as shallow as they are often painted to be. My sense is that they really are looking for purpose, belonging, hope, and usefulness for their uniqueness. So, beyond the bigger and better hayride, what is that the church offers?