Growing up in Sunday school where attendance was sketchy at best, it was not uncommon to hear the teacher say, “Where is everybody?” with a half-hidden tone of disappointment. He or she would then proceed to ask more questions about why certain people were absent than they would about us who were present. If you wanted the teacher to talk about you, it was almost better to skip Sunday school than to be present.
I learned a valuable lesson from those experiences: Always be excited about the students who are present rather than focus on those who are absent.
Always be excited about the students who are present rather than focus on those who are absent.
Don’t enter a room and ask, “Where is everyone?” The kids present are thinking, “What about me? I’m here!” Rather, enter a room and focus on every student who is there and is interested in the Word you have to bring. Even if you put 30 hours into your Bible study lesson for the week, don’t skip it or slim it down because only a handful of students showed up. Feed those who came and make them feel as welcomed as you possibly can.
Don’t worry about those who are absent. After word spreads around about how accepted and welcomed the minority feels, everyone else will be back.
About me: I am married to my beautiful wife, 
March 15th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
there are some great insights there.
good stuff.
March 15th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Very well put! How critical it is that we be present with those students that are with us.
March 16th, 2007 at 6:40 am
Good thought today. I admit it is hard studying so long and preparing a big night and only a few show up. I needed that encouragment today. Those that come to church are the ones that will be blessed. Why keep it from them!
March 16th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Yeah. In my mind, even if only one students shows up, I have his/her undivided attention to make an impact for Christ. I probably won’t sit the one student in the audience and preach through all my PowerPoint slides, but I will still invest just as much into that one kid as I would into a whole group if they were there. And rather than being upset that attendance is low, I’m excited for the one that decided to come. Believe me, I’ve been there and the leader’s attitude makes a huge difference.
And then you have the leaders who constantly push the kids every week to bring their friends and invite others to youth group. After a couple times, this communicates, “I’m interested in having a big group and what makes me happy is having lots of kids here.” The students who do invite their friends end up doing so to earn the leader’s approval. I’ve seen that story played out before, too. Encouraging students to invite their friends is fine only if it’s genuinely from a burden for lost souls, not recruitment for your youth group, and the students who are present already feel your unconditional acceptance for them personally.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Thanks for the reminder…it’s needed just now.
March 16th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Sure thing, Laura!
March 16th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Prepare like it’s your last and preach your guts out…whether its three or three hundred. The one’s that are there deserve it and your word is for them.
Making Difference Makers
March 19th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Nice thoughts. Some that I think I needed to hear and apply.
March 20th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I completely agree. This is one of the first things I have tried to share with adult volunteers! Care for the ones that are there and follow-up later on the ones that aren’t.
March 20th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Exactly, Jason. And when we follow-up, it’s should never be like, “Dude, where were you? Why weren’t you there?” with a tone that places guilt or demands to know what could’ve possibly been more important. Rather, we should follow-up in a way that communicates they were missed, we noticed they were gone and we’d like to have them back because we enjoy their presence.
What speaks to a kid even more than this, though, is actually taking time outside of church to connect with them instead. “Hey Billy, missed ya at youth group last night. I was wondering if maybe we could hang out tonight for a little bit instead, like grab a shake or something.” Even if the meeting can’t happen, at least it shows them that you care about the individual, not just having a large group.
March 22nd, 2007 at 6:37 am
I never really thought about this as an adult, but looking back at youth group/sunday school experiences in my past I did feel a lot of the feelings you described when youth leaders want more quantity than quality of students. I was there every sunday rain or shine because I had to, but it made a huge difference with holding my attention when the leader was excited and took a second to focus on me being there, and show that he was excited to be there too rather than save the lesson for a time when more poeple could be there.
December 10th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Tim -
Appreciate this article. Yesterday in S.S. I had one of those moments where I left asking “where was everyone”? Core kids were AWOL, and enthusiasm and excitement were at a low among those who were there. Thanks for the reminder that those who ARE there are important and need to hear the message just as much. Discouraging that others couldn’t be there to hear it, but I guess I’ll have to take my message “on the road” (reference to your comment above about meeting with kids outside of church time). Thanks again.