The Church Club and Its Spiritual Discipline
The Church Club and Its Spiritual Discipline
Many churches establish clubs within their grounds to serve young people, especially during the summer. Some clubs may also continue throughout the school year. What concerns us here is the purpose of the club and how that purpose is fulfilled.
First, the club is a means, not an end.
It is a recreational means that avoids the mistakes often found in other clubs. It is also an opportunity to observe and understand the behavior of young people outside the formal setting of church meetings, so that any shortcomings or mistakes can be addressed spiritually. The club is not merely a place for play and entertainment; rather, recreation should be combined with spiritual activities. Each session should begin and end with prayer, and may include hymns, spiritual songs, Bible competitions, or spiritual lessons.
If the club lacks a spiritual character, then it has failed to fulfill its mission.
If it becomes associated with problems such as excessive noise, disorder, conflicts among youth, inappropriate speech, or other stumbling blocks, this becomes especially serious because it takes place on church property and under the Church’s care.
For this reason, effective and firm spiritual supervision is essential.
A club without spiritual supervision may do more harm than good, teaching children and youth to disregard church discipline and respect for order.
The club should also have clear regulations and schedules known to both supervisors and participants, with everyone committed to following them.
Many complaints are received about church clubs causing disturbances that bother neighbors and even disrupt church meetings because of excessive shouting and behavior that is inconsistent with a spiritual atmosphere.
Parents also frequently complain that their children return home very late at night. The children justify this by saying they were at the church club. Parents naturally ask whether a church club should allow young people to remain out until midnight, especially when girls may be present, or whether there is a lack of supervision regarding schedules.
Surely we can teach our children to play peacefully, to respect their neighbors, to keep proper schedules, not to return home at unreasonable hours, and to honor the atmosphere of the church.
This raises an important question: Who is responsible for the club’s mission and spiritual character?
The priests are responsible, as are the Sunday School leaders, supervisors, and the club committee.
The club must have a committee responsible for enforcing its regulations, ensuring the presence and effectiveness of supervisors, and maintaining adherence to spiritual principles.
