When you are planning your junior high program, it's a good idea to
keep in mind that balance is sometimes required, even when you have
set some priorities that get more attention. Veteran junior high worker
Darrel Pearson has identified six areas that are easy to get out of
balance:
•Fun versus serious.
Even though most junior high programming should include an element of fun, it's important to remember that weare not just trying to give kids a good time.
•High energy versus low energy.
Most junior highers have a lot of
energy to burn, so it's usually a good idea to provide opportunities for
that. If you start your meetings and activities with some high energy
games or crowd breakers, you'll usually have more successful quiet
times, when kids can sit, think, and relax.
•Large group versus small group.
If you have a large group, remember
that it's important to break them into smaller, more intimate units for
community building, discussion, and sharing. If you have a small
group, its a good idea to find ways to give your kids the opportunity to be with a larger group as well. Take them to citywide events, denominational youth gatherings, or combine with some other youth groups to do some things you can't do on your own.
•Scheduled versus spontaneous. While it is important to do advance
planning, it's also a good idea to leave enough time on the calendar to
allow for spontaneous activities that can be inserted from time to time.
It's also wise to remember that "the best laid plans" sometimes need to
be changed at the last minute. Junior high ministry requires a good
amount of flexibility and spontaneity.
•Basics versus in-depth.
It's not unusual to have junior highers in your group who are totally unfamiliar with the Bible, the stories of faith, or
other knowledge that would be considered basic. On the other hand,
you will have other students who have been raised in the church and
need to go deeper. Our programs need to reflect a balance that will
meet the needs of both groups.
•Intellectual versus emotional.
While junior highers are ready to begin
thinking through their faith, asking questions, and learning about
theological issues, they are also very emotional and have a need to feel
their faith, not just understand it. That's why it's important for us to
keep a balance between the intellectual (objective) and the emotional
(subjective.)*
Obviously we can't have perfect balance in everything we do, but it's helpful to remember that most of us are unbalanced personally, which makes our programming become unbalanced. If you are more of a thinker than a feeler, your tendency will be to program accordingly.
That's why it's helpful to remember to at least try to achieve some balance in what we do.
