Reaching teen youth

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>do a lot of the functions that youths react to here.  What are some of
>the tactics that some of you youth leaders take in reaching the children
>of today (particularly those in the age group of 12 - 18)?

Love 'em, love 'em, then love 'em some more.

This is the tactic used by Sidell Pentecostal Assembly.  In a town of
600 people, the UPC church is the largest with an attendance of around
100.  They are the *only* church with a youth group of any kind, and
it's because the people in the church are willing to sacrifice to spend
time with the teens in this town.  It's not excitement or amusements
or video games or whatever that will draw them church -- it's the
genuine friendship and relationship they get from people in the church.
Last year, Sidell baptized 20 or 30 teens -- some have stuck around,
some are in-and-out, some are in jail or whatever -- but they will
*always* remember the love Sidell Pentecostal Assembly has shown them,
and when they're in a bind later on in life, they'll turn to the church.

This "friendship evangelism" is time-consuming, but it works and is
very rewarding.  The teen age is *the most vital* time to reach people
with the message of Christ -- most people will have made up their minds
about Christianity by the time they are 20.

Richard