We don't have an upper age limit at Kidz Klub; so as long as teenagers behave, they're welcome to keep coming. At some point, however, if these young people are going to mature in their faith, they need to become an integrated part of the adult church. How does that happen?

If you're read the testimonies on this site, you'll find that Youth Alpha courses have been a valuable tool. Most Autumn terms we try to run a Youth Alpha course, to which we invite all the "Kidz KLub kids" who've just gone into senior school. Inital attendance is usually high, but as the course progresses, only the genuinely interested remain.

This gives us an opportunity to invest in those lives where spiritual hunger is obviously growing. In our last Alpha course, forty young people made committments to Jesus. These young people are then formed into cells and invited to come to church on a Sunday. Through our Sunday morning activities and their cell groups, they quickly become an integrated part of the church.

Many people ask whether we run separate activites for "church" and "non-church" youth? The answer is no. To us they all represent young lives who need to experience the reality of Jesus Christ. They're all equally welcome at Frontline Church.

What about those who don't complete the Alpha Course? Each month, we run a city-wide evangelistic youth event called the Edge. Combining live music from the most popular Christian bands including The Tribe, YFriday, Steve and Thebandwithnoname with hard-hitting gospel presentations from speakers including Arthur White of Tough Talk and Andy Hawthorne of The Message Trust, gives us high attendance and a high number of responses to the gospel. This hi-tech, hi-action evening is attended by over 600 young people from all over the city and even surrounding towns. In fact, it's been growing so fast that we've moved it from our own building to a bigger venue in the centre of town with a capacity of 2500. On November 16th, we recorded our highest ever attendance: 1050 people! Kidz Klub visitors encourage young people they know to attend and each month loads of teenagers give their lives to Jesus.

When kids drift from church events in their teenage years it can be really discouraging, especially when we've invested so much in them. We've found the key is simply to keep on going. Through our visiting rounds we're maintaining a presence in the area and giving young people a door back into the church when they're ready. We're believing that "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." Ps 126v5.