Should Children Go to Sunday School and Youth Group?

Today, many Christians don't think Sunday school and youth groups are a good place to send children when they are growing up. Our children were always in Sunday school and youth group, so I asked them what their overall impression of them was and this is what they had to say ~

One son told me he had fabulous youth pastors in junior and senior high who led the youth groups; taking them on mission's trips, mentoring them at lunch through high school and teaching them the Word. Many unbelieving children came and were saved through it.  He LOVED it! Our other son, loved it also and felt it definitely contributed to his spiritual growth. All through junior and senior high school, our children would go to their youth group the first hour and then sit with us as a family in the second hour for the entire church service.

One daughter responded when I asked her, "Senior high, I remember having the same benefits of junior high; fun with fellow Christian friends. Also, there were opportunities to serve. I remember being part of a prayer tent at some event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and that was a growing experience for me. Hume Lake was always extremely fun and a growing experience that I feel blessed to be a part of. All to say, I think junior and senior youth groups are mainly beneficial for meeting Christian friends who are like-minded and having good, clean fun. When you're at a public school or homeschooled, it's hard to meet friends with similar beliefs and strong morals; youth group is a great place for this. Junior high and high school can be confusing times when you are trying to figure out your identity/who you are {it took me until college to fully figure out my identity in Christ and being confident in who He made me to be; that He loves me just for who I am including my personality, physical appearance, and all} and it's nice to have kids from godly upbringings to be in the same place you are and learning how to be a follower of Christ."

Both of my daughters-in-law loved youth group. They had good friends from godly homes and solid Bible teaching. Their overall memories are positive. 

Only one of the couples didn't rave about it. One didn't have any close friends so this made it not so enjoyable and the other one said that the youth pastors came and went so often and it seemed their whole purpose was to have "fun" and grow the group big, without any solid Bible teaching.

In conclusion, I believe that Sunday School and youth groups are okay as long as you are in a solid Bible-teaching church and keep a close eye on the friends they make and how these groups are affecting them. The Bible doesn't say whether this is right or wrong so I believe it falls to each Christian's liberty to decide for themselves. By far, the most important aspect of raising children is the home life and whether or not they are taught God's Words and ways at home. Nothing can make up for this.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 
as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: 
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25