Working class teenagers

Last night Toilet Block Tuesday (the nickname for Crossroads' Tuesday night service) held a fair in the park behind the Moonah Community Centre. Jake explained that we did it to show that the gospel's for everyone, not just for people who've grown up going to church or who have friends there. It was a fantastic event - lucky door hampers, guess the number of jelly beans, throw bits of wood at old plates, face painting, sausage sizzle, crafts for sale, free Christian books and Bibles, a band, a talk by Jimbo, footy, rugby and cricket. Some teenagers got to have a positive experience of Christians and Christian community, and a couple of ladies and some primary school kids got to hear the gospel.

I edged my way into the group of teenagers waiting to get their faces painted. I'd worn my Element skull and snakes t-shirt (because I didn't want to imply that Christianity's only for the middle class) and they were impressed. I joked around with them and shot questions at them. I didn't care when they smoked and swore, but I did care when a kid was never getting a go and when the guys said smutty things about their friend. It all made me wonder if perhaps the trick with teenagers is to launch yourself into their world and to be really honest and unpolished (and kind), while at the same time staying confident in your authority, so that when you need to tell them off you'll be listened to. I managed it for a short while - dunno how I'd go day-in day-out.