Chapter Four: The Social Presence of the DCC in the City of Durban
4.2 The DCC Youth Programme
The DCC's ministry to youth is called "Youth Xtreme". Senior pastor Fred Roberts chose the name "Youth Xtreme" after making several international visits. According to youth pastor Victor Van de Spuy, Roberts realised that the word "extreme" was currently a trendy word among young people in several countries. Youth were engaging in "extreme sport"", living life to the extreme"
I use the term HIV and AIDS as opposed to HIV/AIDS in order to clearly indicate that people who are HIV positive do not necessarily have full-blown AIDS.
89 The DCC does offer low level support and assistance programmes such as elderly persons' support, employment assistance, children's, women's and men's ministry, pre-marital courses, counselling and financial assistance to poor families, among other sporadic social activities.
and so forth. After consultations with brand designers and advertising experts, the concept "Youth Xtreme" was formulated.
A few minutes from the DCC Jesus Dome lies the "Thunder Dome", which is home to the DCC youth programme. The Thunder Dome is fully equipped with sound and light technology as well as sporting facilities such as basketball, table tennis, pool tables and even a rock-climbing wall. A huge trendy sign on a black background with silver writing reads "2B Xtreme".
The method of operation and ministry style at the DCC's Youth Xtreme is not unique in the world since this kind of youth ministry has gained popularity in Pentecostal/Charismatic youth groups, even attracting the attention of international news broadcaster CNN. A "CNN presents" documentary, titled
"Fight over Faith",91 filmed Charismatic Christian youth at a "Louis Palau Festival". Louis Palau conducts large-scale evangelistic meetings in the western hemisphere, and the meeting that CNN focused on specifically targeted youth92. This meeting, however, did not bear any resemblance to traditional evangelistic
"campaigns", which contain strong preaching for repentance, healings, and an altar call; instead, it mixed what it called "extreme sport" with "extreme worship".
The youth were at a skate and bike ramp where there was a display of stunt skateboarding and biking. During these displays the youth were introduced to sport enthusiasts and extreme sport experts who shared with passion their faith in Jesus Christ93. The youth were introduced to the old message that Jesus Christ died for them, wants to save them and give them hope for the future, in the context of the "extreme" sport activities. This strategy combines a savvy use of popular youth culture with the message of Jesus Christ.
90 See discussion on the importance of brand identity and branding in megachurches in chapter 7.
91 Screened on 14/11/04
92 View also "God's Christian worriers" documentary by CNN journalist Christian Amanpour to see a similar reflection on Charismatic youth.
93 Extreme sport people can include weight lifters, wrestlers, and stunt car drivers. Popular sports personalities are often used to share their testimonies with young people to show that God is not boring and that to become a Christian one does not have to lose ones sense of being
"cool" and edgy. For an example of a sport personality's testimony, read about stunt biker Evel Knieval in "Evel overcome with good" at www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/aprilweb-only/115- 43.0.html
The DCC youth programme has adopted this style of youth outreach and seems to be reaping the benefits in terms of its appeal to young people. Youth today exhibit a heightened sense of brand consciousness. Image is also a priority for youth as the media indoctrinates susceptible "tweens" (the group between 8-14 years of age) and teens regarding how to be accepted in the "in crowd". The DCC youth programme is conscious of this trend and its leaders have thus strategically structured their programme to accommodate young people's needs to be seen as "cool", vibrant and trendy.
Entering the Thunder Dome on Friday night is an experience, and one would forget that this is actually on church property. The penetrating sound of heavy bass music is heard outside, and as one enters the Thunder Dome the volume is almost deafening. The young people are gathered for their weekly dose of Youth Xtreme, which is marketed as "spontaneous", and "spiritually explicit"94. The Thunder Dome is a multi-layered space that includes: sports centre, live music club, chat room, church and altar. The Friday night's programme usually begins with an ice-breaker (a short game with prizes in order to get the youth comfortable and engaged in the programme). The meetings could include singing, dancing, live entertainment from visiting Christian rock/rap bands with names such as "Spin da flava" (Spin the flavour), and "Delirious", and could conclude with a chat show or sermon and altar call.
The DCC youth programme has gained the attention of the city's youth nightspot scouts. The official city magazine issued to Durban residents called
"Metrobeat" contained an article about the DCC youth programme entitled "Way beyond Thunder Dome: A new Durban nightspot offers good, clean fun for the young95". The writer of the article, Thrusha Naidoo, adds that a visit to the Thunder Dome is "guaranteed to breathe life into your weekend" (2004:29).
According to Victor Van de Spuy, "the chief reason many young people find themselves in trouble with alcohol, drugs, pornography, violence, gangsterism,
94See http://www.dcc.org.za/?q=yxtreme
95 Issue 71 December 2004:29. See appendix P p.325
or pre-marital sex is the nature of the places they visit for entertainment". A Durban newspaper96 has identified the Youth Xtreme project as an example of a
"healthy, clean alternative for a more socially stable younger generation". Joan Van Niekerk, the director of Childline?7 has endorsed the Youth Xtreme model and lamented the lack of similar suitable locations for youth entertainment98.