For those of you participating in Mission Madness who live in Richmond and want to make this a weekend “away” for your youth, I invite you to consider using host homes. Here’s how it works:
Divide your youth into small groups of 5-7 and invite church members to open their homes to host a small group and its leader for the weekend. The host homes will be places for the youth to sleep, hang out together, play games, and maybe even enjoy a meal or snacks around the table.
If the idea of being solely responsible for a group of youth seems a bit overwhelming to a host, you can secure a young adult leader or two to assist the hosts and lead the group not only in meaningful discussions but also in hangout time and fun and games.
Hosts make great drivers, too!
One of the greatest benefits of host homes is the connections that are built between families and our youth. Every youth needs other adults in their lives who love and know them and serve as a source of encouragement and support. Often, hosts have younger children who benefit from knowing and being known by the youth. Host homes are a beautiful way to foster intergenerational community.
What the hosts provide:
- A room where the youth can sleep in sleeping bags on the floor or on air mattresses they bring. This can also serve as a hang-out room.
- If there are adult leaders helping with the youth in the host home, have a separate bedroom with a bed for them.
- Obviously, a bathroom.
- Help the group leaders by handling discipline, house rules, making sure they stay on schedule, etc. You are in charge of your house, and you make the rules for your house. Tell the students which rooms you allow them in, your expectations for ‘in-house’ behavior, and when to be quiet and go to sleep.
- Make the students feel loved, special, and welcome in your home,
What the youth bring:
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Snacks and drinks to share
Churches, you might also want to consider the following based on your own protocol:
- Conduct Covenant
- Medicine Release Forms
Ann Whitfield Carter is Associate Pastor at Glen Allen Baptist Church in Richmond and serves on the CBFVA Coordinating Council.
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