In light of the youth culture of today, reaching teenagers for the cause of Christ is becoming a greater challenge. In an average church-wide revival, one can expect approximately two-thirds of the Sunday morning congregation to be in attendance. In a youth revival, because the youth comprise a smaller percentage and tend to be generally apathetic about church events, without adequate promotion, one can expect far less to be in attendance. Thus, a successful youth event will require hard work.

Because you are a New Testament church and are obviously interested in reaching youth, you no doubt want to reach as many teenagers as possible. In order to help you to make this the most effective youth event it can be, S.N.S. Ministries has created this list of suggestions in order to help you promote the event and make it a tool by which God can radically impact the youth of your church and your community. This information is designed to aid in the promotion of a youth rally, a youth revival, or a youth crusade.

A. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer - Encourage your teens to make the event a matter of serious prayer. This is the first step and the last step of planning a successful youth event. Your students can make a true spiritual investment by praying that God draw other teenagers to the event and do a mighty work in hearts at the event. They will learn firsthand that God hears and answers the prayers of His people.

B. Make it a joint effort - For whatever reason, it is becoming more and more difficult to get other churches interested in the youth events of other congregations. In the early stages of planning the event, make an attempt to include other youth ministers or pastors in the planning of the youth event. By allowing them to help in the planning, they are provided a level of ownership of the event and will support it in their attendance. Also, other churches that may not have taken part in the planning will also be more likely to attend because they understand that several churches have invested time and effort to make it a quality event.

C. Give the event a name - The name conveys attitude. Also, if the event goes well enough, and you feel led to make it an annual event, the name might stick and promotion would be much easier the following year due to the familiar name. “Youth Jam ’98,” “Vertical Reality,” “Outrageous ?98,” “Youthquake ’98,” “Back-to-school Blast ’98″ are just some examples. More generic alternatives like “Youth Revival” or “youth rally” are generally boring and lack youthful appeal. Allow some of your own youth toss out some ideas.

D. Send letters - to other churches for promotion of the event in their church among their teens. Include the information that you would use in a news release. Also include a flier with this information which can be placed on their church bulletin board. Give specifics about the speaker and music as well as other miscellaneous information that will promote it as a fun and interesting event. If possible, use cool graphics and photographs of the revival team.

Send the letter at least one to two months in advance. It may be wise to include an RSVP request for several reasons: first of all, if you are feeding the teens pizza, hot dogs, etc. you will have a better idea of how many to expect. Secondly, an RSVP request will let that church know that you are seriously interested in their attendance.

E. Place calls -

1. to key churches in your area inviting them, regardless of denomination. These should be churches which have already received your letter concerning the event. Try to speak directly with the youth pastor or the pastor, rather than the secretary.
2. to your youth group’s friends. This is an excellent method of promotion. During your best attended youth meeting of the week prior to the event, get all your teens to write down the phone numbers of four friends who do not attend church (or at least do not attend your church). Be sure that each person listed gets at least two invitations to the event by phone: one from the listing teen and one from you or another youth worker.

F. Be creative - Even our most faithful church kids today are not often likely to come to church looking for spiritual renewal, and in planning a youth event one must realize that he is competing against everything that Satan and the World uses to distract them, everything from MTV to ball games to “cruising the strip.” Several ideas should be employed to use as “drawing cards” for the youth in your area.

1. First of all, include a “pizza blast” - Most teenagers love pizza, but
   they especially love free pizza. Advertise your “pizza blast” on small cards or strips of paper, about 2″ x 4,” called “pizza tickets,” which will include time, place, name of the speaker and musical guests, and the name of the event. On one end, the ticket should read “admit one,” but mention on the ticket that these are an advertising tool and are not necessary to have in-hand to eat pizza at the pizza blast. Have your teens and adults hand these tickets out at school and in their communities.
2. Choose music carefully The youth events that are best attended and hold the best overall spiritual atmosphere usually include quality music. This could be done by local talent or an individual or group of a more well-known name. Get special music guests who have a youth appeal. Use their pictures (when available) in your advertising. Quality musicians are one of your biggest “drawing cards.”
3. Also, do your best to have someone, whether they are your special musician or not, who can lead the teens in youthful worship. Trying to lead youth in adult-style worship is counterproductive. Make them feel like each night of the event is for them. Remember: the music sets the mood.
4. Have special contests each night concerning attendance - For instance, a free T-shirt or a gift certificate to a local restaurant for the teenager who brings the most guests. S.N.S. Ministries is always willing to donate a Christian T-shirt as a prize if necessary; just inquire. The contests promote enthusiasm among the teens and, again, promotes the feeling of ownership on their part.

G. Send news releases -

1. To newspapers - Make your advertising eye-catching and youth-oriented. Include the news release about Scott Newton Smith and the special musicians with their pictures if available. List other information about the event that will promote it as interesting and fun. (Click here to see a sample press release.)
2. To Christian radio stations - If your area is serviced by a Christian radio station or a Christian radio program on a local station, use their bulletin time to promote the event. This information will roughly match that of the news release.

We hope that these suggestions prove helpful to you as you promote your event. May your promotion of the event be successful as we strive to reach and impact as many teenagers as possible for the cause of Christ in the days ahead.

The sample press release is intended as just that: a sample. It is up to the church as to how to change the press release to fit particular needs and desires for promotional purposes. However, remember to list each of the key elements: Who, What, When, Where, How. Also, be sure to list a contact at the church who can answer questions, keep the press release under one page, and end the release with the three “pounds” (###), which is a standard mark for the end of any press release. For more information on creating and distributing press releases, contact us so we can help.