Youth Pastor Name: Brad Fain

Youth Group Name: The Crowd

Church Name: Atlanta West Pentecostal Church

Location: Lithia Springs, Georgia

InsideOut: How many people do you have in your youth ministry? 188

Brad Fain: Average age? 16

IO: Do you have a prayer meeting for the youth?

BF: We have youth prayer every Tuesday night.

IO: Do you have a lot of visitors?

BF: During the first seven months of the year we have had almost 200 guests in youth service!

IO: What do you do for outreach?

BF: Our largest outreach event is our Annual Lock-In. We have this event every January, and this year more than 500 attended! We’ve had concerts, inflatables, basketball and volleyball tournaments, and video game tournaments. You name it; we’ve done it.

IO: Tell us about your facility and how have you gotten to that point?

BF: We have “The Crowd Room.” This is our own 250-seat sanctuary, and it has become a place where God is welcome and youth are being filled with the Holy Ghost, repenting, and making life changes. God has allowed us to grow from a smaller youth group, setting up a portable stage every week, to making “The Crowd” the place of choice every Thursday night for over 100 teenagers.

IO: What do you do to retain those who join your youth group? Bible studies? Small groups?

BF: We are excited about Bible studies, and after our last Lock-In, 34 guests requested to know more about God! We have break-out sessions once a month where age-appropriate topics are discussed and dissected. Lots of fun!

IO: Is there a “hangout” for your youth outside of church?

BF: They like to frequent the mall, which is an excellent outreach tool as well.

IO: Do you have a worship band? If so, what style do they play?

BF: We have a worship band that does a large variety of contemporary worship. Hillsong United, Chris Tomlin, Israel, David Crowder Band, and more are often heard in service.

IO: What style of music does your youth group like?

BF: The kids listen to all kinds of music. We have a very large group of skater or grunge kids, and then we have a large group that enjoys the more contemporary and gospel styles. Hey, it’s The Crowd; we have a little bit of everything!

IO: Do you have a youth choir?

BF: We have an unbelievable youth choir! Bethany Jones is our director, and it is a highlight of our year when we do a choir tour in our surrounding states.

IO: Do you guys do crowd breakers?

BF: Crowd breakers are not an every service thing. Yes, we do them sometimes, but we tend to focus more on getting into worship and then the preaching.

IO: Do you meet on the same night as the midweek service for the whole church? What day is that?

BF: Yes, and that day is Thursday

IO: In your services, have many young people received the Holy Ghost?

BF: In the first seven months of this year, more than 20 have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in The Crowd!

IO: What did your youth group think of Youth Congress?

BF: Those who went absolutely loved it. Many had to start back to school so they missed it. I think this year was one of the deepest moves of God I have ever experienced at Youth Congress!

IO: How many youth staff members do you have?

BF: Eight, including myself and my wife.

IO: Do you have a youth bus ministry?

BF: We have a committed driver and a bus. After we secure a leader and work out a schedule, the bus’s wheels can go round and round. We really feel like this is going to be an excellent outreach tool.

IO: Do you guys have a Web site?

BF: Yupper! You can check it out here.