It’s almost a cliché today to say that teens are facing tough challenges in their lives, but that doesn’t make the statement any less true. Each of us could easily make a list of unhealthy influences on the lives of young people, beginning with drugs and gangs and perhaps ending with Facebook or Twitter.
Parents exert as much positive influence as they can, but they need support. After suffering repeated budget-cuts, schools can offer little beyond academics, so in many instances it falls to religious institutions to support traditional values in the lives of youth.
One local church that takes this responsibility seriously is Gilroy’s South Valley Community Church, which offers creative programs for secondary students. Events combine study of the Bible, application of biblical principles to daily life, worship and wholesome fun.
CRASH is the name of the junior high group. Its logo features a picture of a rhinoceros, and “crash” is the technical term for a group of rhinos. According to the Rev. Mark Turner, who facilitates the youth programs, “Rhinos can run 30 miles per hour but can see only 30 feet ahead. Imagine the impact they can make if they run into something. In the same way, we want our youth to make an impact in their world.”
CRASH meets twice a week: Sundays at 10:30 a.m. for Bible study and discussion of applying its principles, and on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. to worship, hear messages and participate in activities that are related to biblical themes. Often they include an off-site location such as
– The local cemetery to observe historic graves and discuss how sin leads to spiritual death
– The police station to talk about how lack of forgiveness can imprison us
– An archery range to explore “missing the mark” in life
– The Winchester Mystery House to consider spiritualism.
Occasionally the events are simply aimed at recreation or relaxation, like Fast Food Fellowship when they walk to a local restaurant to enjoy the cuisine and each other’s company, or Mission Impossible at Oakridge Mall where the teams try to recognize parents from the church disguised as ordinary shoppers.
The senior high group is called The Sanctuary, after the building in which they often meet. Students in ninth- through 12-grade gather at 10:30 a.m. Sundays and at 7 p.m. Wednesdays.
Sunday features a teaching series on topics important to this age. Recently they participated in a discussion on dating, watching excerpts from the TV series “The Dating Game” and acting out an episode themselves. But the theme behind the fun was discovering the responsibilities of being in a relationship, and the ethics and morality involved. Wednesdays are devoted to studying Scripture and discussing applications to life.
On Fridays there is a program called “The Fifth Quarter,” which brings participants together after local high school football games. Activities include miniature golf, grand prix racing or watching movies – more wholesome activities than the drinking that sometimes follows Friday night football games.
Both groups attend summer and winter camps at Hume Lake to enjoy seasonal recreational activities.
Pastor Mark says he has worked with youth groups for nearly 15 years and still has “as much fun as the kids do.”
“We want to support students as they face challenges in their lives and encourage them to apply biblical principles as they meet problems and dilemmas,” he said. “Our goal is to help students live Christ-centered, blameless, loving lives that make a difference for God.”
All South Valley teens are welcome to join. For more information, call South Valley Community Church at 408-848-2363 or visit www.svccgilroy.com.
