Response to Tyler's #5 (Joel)

1. RE: How do we deal with someone who just doesn't show up to class? Should I have taken charge on this one and made up a lesson? It wouldn't have been very good, but it probably would be better than nothing. I think a lesson wouldn't have necessarily hurt but you shouldn't have to feel the weight of someone else dropping the ball. I think you probably need to confront this person and tell them, "Hey, I show up every week to serve for the high school class and you've either been late or absent several times already." I think by just hanging out with the kids you were okay. Who knows, that might have had an even deeper impact than a lesson would have that morning.

2. RE: Is there any possible way for the different "social divisions" to actually get together and hang out? How? Group activities? Ski trips? I'm not sure if there is anything that involves everyone. Let me know! This is probably one of the hardest tasks as a pastor--especially working with youth. I think any activity that forces them to hang out isn't going to work. Every youth group trip we took ended up leaving people in the same cliques as usual. Maybe taking a smaller group of people from different groups would help build some bridges. Hand pick a few kids you think could handle being with each other and enjoy themselves and take them on a trip together. Those are my thoughts on that.