Church youth group for non church member

[pharmjenn]

DS12 was invited to attend a local church youth group about a month ago by another family. He has gone almost every week since then, and loves it. We have not gone to a church service though. I plan to take him Sunday, but I work every other weekend so will not be able to go all that often. The middle schoolers actually have their own service / youth group at the same time as the regular Sunday service, so I think if I take him I would be then attending a different service than the one he is in. I do not know though.

Is it wrong, or weird, that my son is attending the youth group but not going to church there? The youth group leader seems very welcoming, and has invited us, and no one has said he is not allowed to attend without being a member of the church, but I always figured that was the intent of the youth groups colon to teach the kids about God and encourage church attendance.

if it matters, this is a non-denominational church that has many branches in our area. We are members of the Catholic church and I was raised Lutheran oh, so I am used to very traditional worship services from watching online videos of this church, it is not at all what I am used to, and possibly even will be uncomfortable especially if I am there alone

[SnuggleBuggles]

My ds1 attended youth group stuff at both sets of grandparents’ churches. He never attended church and we haven’t raised the kids with religion(dh and I both went as kids). The one leader was especially wonderful for bringing him out of his shell and he met some really nice kids. It sounds like your ds is enjoying it- no reason to overthink it.


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[KpbS]

Totally normal. Most youth groups welcome all kids.

[ett]

Totally normal. Most youth groups welcome all kids.

[ang79]

My kids have invited friends to youth group, VBS, Easter Egg Hunt, etc. One of DD's close friends was quite active in the 4-6 grade youth group last year and even helped out at VBS. Her family is Catholic and we are Methodist, but she enjoyed coming as she knew kids from school there. If he is enjoying going, I think its totally fine to just do the youth activities if that is what works for your family.

[mom2binsd]

DD went to a youth group for about a year with some school friends, but never attended any actual church services.

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[pharmjenn]

Oh, good. Thank you everyone for your responses.

[o_mom]

Very normal, as others have said. If you do not have any conflicts with the particular theology that they follow, then I would not worry about it at all.

[Melaine]

Yes we always have kids who attend youth group regularly but don’t go to our church. Some go to other churches or just don’t attend at all. Of course their family is always welcome to Sunday services but it’s ok if they only ever come to YG.

[hellokitty]

If he's in middle school he is old enough to participate w/o parents also attending the church.