Worship and youth : a case study in a South African township

Abstract

The aim of this Research Study, Youth and Worship: A Case Study in South African Township is to investigate the factors and problems related to Praise and Worship, which affects young people in participating in Praise and Worship in the Church every Sunday Morning Service. Leaders and Older People do not have a holistic understanding of what role of young people in worship and how to allow young people to participate in worship during church service. There is a wide gap between Church Leaders, Adults, and Young People because they do not have enough information about the youth of today. Young people viewed as if they are not part of praise and worship in the church; they are separated from the main church service on Sundays. However, the inclusive congregational approach is that young people are part of a comprehensive congregational ministry with a differentiated and focused way. From preliminary observation and some researchers, it seems that there is a need to do a depth study in the liturgy, worship so that the elderly can understand it well, and adapt it. The working hypothesis of this study is if the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) Botshabelo Presbytery can use young people more in praise and worship to put more impact in the church services, especially in singing, preaching, and praying. If URCSA Botshabelo Presbytery is expecting to have more young people in the church that they, embrace young people during worship and use them in the full service of the church. The rationale behind this study is to find out a way on how we can protect our young people, keep them in the church, and allow them to participate in worship every Sunday. That is why all the time they always ask questions about the existence in the church and what their role is. The objectives of this study are to find out the ways and factors related to Worship and Liturgy that affects young people to participate in Praise and Worship in Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) Botshabelo Presbytery, to research the causes of these worship and liturgical challenges affecting young people not to participate fully in the life of the church in Praise and Worship every Sunday and to come up with some suggestions and ways of adapting the Liturgy and Worship in order to improve young people participation in Sunday worship services. As the Church, we need a new vision and ties that bind. He who said: "Behold I make all things new" look to His church to express that newness. Reformed folk never hesitate to re-form; therefore, old patterns can be replaced. We will meet a new situation and pressing need with the creative power of His Spirit because we know His covenant promises are reliable. If our slow and sometimes stumbling ways have been counterproductive, we of all Christians may not despair but will regroup and press on to our goal that is always to “Please Him”. This is a Qualitative Study and Research that will be focusing in URCSA Botshabelo Presbytery’s Young People in the Church. The researcher will apply three methods of data collection, viz. Qualitative Focus Group Interviews, Qualitative Semi-Structure Interviews, as well as Qualitative Participation Observation. The Qualitative Data Analysis based on the Thematic Structure of the interview schedules and in a narrative form and verbatim expressions of participant adopted. The researcher will also apply empirical research to explore the basic research question. The findings of my research will assist URCSA Botshabelo Presbytery with the major elements of the formulary of worship in every Sunday morning service; so that they can realize that the level of young people participated in the Sunday Worship Services is exceptionally low and unsatisfactory, and that there are several challenges and factors that cause this low level of participation. In addition, to be able to improve the level of young people participate actively in the congregational activities and events. Assisting elders and adults to adopt an attitude of accepting, caring, loving, guiding, and supporting young people in the church of Christ.