STARTING A PROGRAM ..

1. IT'S NOT CHURCH!   Remember that you are not running a church service but an outreach program.   Avoid the use of religious terminology - it will be like a foreign language to them.   Use everyday language and keep it simple.

2. YOU'RE THE GUEST.   You are the intruder into their world and there by their invitation.   Their acceptance of you is their invitation to you.  If you're not welcome then they won't come.    Act like the guest.  You are there to "sell them something they don't know they want." 

3. MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AT AND IN A WAY THEY UNDERSTAND.   Before you can supply an answer to their problem, you have to know what they are facing.   Be real, have no pretensions, understand their world and communicate to them in words and ways they can easily relate to.  Avoid "religious" words, cliches and actions.   Use your own testimony and experiences.

4. MEET EVERYDAY ISSUES HEAD ON.  Your message needs to address issues that they face in everyday life and provide an answer.   Avoiding issues does not help.  Talk about drugs, school, peer pressure, sex, violence, obedience, crime.   If you don't know about something, then find out.   

5. BRING EVERYTHING BACK TO JESUS.  Provide the alternative by bringing the focus back to Jesus.  Do NOT use terms that are religious, like "saved", "born again", "Spirit-filled".  They do not have any meaning to them, but instead talk about having Jesus in your life, praying daily for Him to help, reading your Bible.   Use simple words to convey simple principles.