Because I reached the maximum friends I could have on my Facebook page, last Friday I launched a new Facebook Fan Page.   If you haven’t seen it, check it out at www.facebook.com/Thejeannemayo.  I’ve had a lot of fun being able to connect with so many friends (3,500 and growing!)

I asked my friends to post one of their favorite quotes on friendship.  There were a lot of great quotes.  Three posted one of my own “Mayoisms,” “Show me your friends…and I’ll show you your future.”  But the one from Tracey really rang true for so many people in our world today, especially our teens…”I’d like to know where these friends are???  No one wants a relationship anymore.”

In our youth ministries If we fail at creating that sense of belonging, that friendship factor, that family feeling, then we’ve failed the youth ministry success test.  The truth is, over 50% of today’s teenagers and young adults in our ministries come from broken homes and even if their family is together, there is no guarantee that there is that “Cosby Family” feeling in that home.  So it is no big wonder why youth ministries that strategically cultivate a sense of family, friendship and belonging are way more effective than youth ministries that tend to be detached.

Some simple things we can do to cultivate an atmosphere of friendship and family in our youth ministries are:

• Realize that most of the cliquishness and standoffishness comes from insecurities in your teenager’s life and/or lack of training.  Not from pride and cliquishness like we might think.  Identify your root problem.
• Launch a “Point Guard Team” or “Row Hosts and Hostesses.”
• A youth church that prays together and plays together, stays together.
• There is magic in doing some road trips, over-nighters or retreats with your kids.

For more ideas or if you’re struggling in this area, check out the Youth Leader’s Coach, “Creating An Atmosphere of Friendship And Family.”  (http://www.youthleaderscoach.com/playbook/details.asp?id=252)