Ecology

God created a beautiful world. The first man’s task was to care for the plants and animals that God had placed in the Garden of Eden. It is the duty of all people—and even more so of Christians—to show respect for God’s creation. Instead of destroying, cutting down, and wasting, let us appreciate, protect, and promote an attitude of gratitude for God’s magnificent creation.

Active involvement in caring for the environment can also create many opportunities for evangelism.

The Role of YS

Take advantage of days like Earth Day to organize larger, one-time environmental protection campaigns.

Promote your idea in church and within the community
Invite people outside the YS group to participate—family, church members, and friends
Organize a cleanup of the area around the church
Organize an initiative to beautify the neighborhood—for example, by planting ornamental plants in visible areas or places known for their ugliness.
Prepare a program with a presentation on the duty to respect God’s creation.

Find out what environmental projects are being implemented in your city and involve your YS group in them (on a one-time, occasional, or long-term basis).

These could include:

tree-planting projects
city beautification projects
city cleanup projects
campaigns promoting the protection of urban green spaces

Work with your group to create a garden on church grounds. It could be a herb garden, a vegetable garden, an ornamental garden, or a mixed garden. You can plant trees or flowers. The possibilities are endless. Teach your group to respect God’s creation and cultivate in them a love for nature and spending time in it.

Set up an indoor garden with your group.

At home, in the YS room, or throughout the church.
Create a duty roster to teach responsibility and care for nature.
You can grow common houseplants or even plant herbs and vegetables (tomatoes, lettuce, and carrots are examples of vegetables that grow well indoors) for the whole church to use or for YS meetings (it would be great to grow your own ingredients for a salad or dinner prepared together).

Organize a meeting or presentation at church to raise awareness about Christians’ environmental responsibilities.

Discuss the proper Christian attitude toward God’s creation
Highlight a few (including Christian) organizations dedicated to environmental protection
Suggest a few ways in which your congregation can become more aware of and more caring toward God’s creation.

Work with the YS group to implement a few changes in how the church operates

Encourage people to take a walk with their families, ride bicycles, or use public transportation instead of driving to church. And certainly, make sure that no family arrives in more than one car
Replace disposable plates, cups, and cutlery with reusable ones (Styrofoam products are the worst—they’re nearly impossible to recycle)
Create and display posters in the church to raise awareness about the responsibility to care for God’s creation
Implement a recycling system in the church
Ask those leading worship services, home groups, Sunday school classes, or youth meetings to address the topic of the Christian approach to the environment during their gatherings

Set up a recycling station at the church.

Collect paper, plastic, and metal.
Encourage church members to use this station (if they don’t already have a similar system at home)
By collecting scrap metal and paper, you can even earn money at collection centers. People are often encouraged to collect plastic bottle caps for charitable purposes
Remember that by setting up such a station, you are responsible for running it and emptying it

Organize an art contest (e.g., photography or 3D models) among churches or among your family and friends titled “God’s Beautiful Creation.” Organize a gala for guests and announce the winner, presenting the award. This is a great opportunity to raise awareness about the Christian approach to the environment and a wonderful opportunity for evangelism.

There are organizations that allow “ordinary citizens” to purchase a portion of an equatorial forest or other endangered land remotely. That area is then protected from destruction.

Encourage the group to participate in a similar initiative.

Hold an auction where you sell handmade items
Organize a banquet where you’ll serve as chefs, waitstaff, and emcees, and invite church members, family, and friends. Explain the purpose of the event to everyone and let them know that “donations as you wish” are welcome
Organize a work week during which you’ll help congregation members with various household chores (e.g., washing windows, babysitting). Explain the purpose of the project to everyone and let them know that “donations as you wish” are welcome.
Organize a car wash. Set a date and promote the event. Explain the purpose of the event to everyone and let them know that “donations as you wish” are welcome.