As I write this, I’m sitting in the first morning session at Youth Leadership Camp at Wayland Baptist University. I have the privilege of teaching 9th and 10th graders with our student minister this week.
I do need to mention at this point that I spent several years in youth ministry. My wife and I teach an 11th and 12th grade Sunday School class. I also have two teenagers, who just so happen to be in the group I’m leading this week. So, investing in student ministry is personal for me. But, in the rest of this post, I’m going to argue that being involved in student ministry should be personal for every pastor.
Now please don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not saying that you need to personally teach high school Sunday school or teach the youth Wednesday night Bible study every week. Depending on your role at your church, you may be able to do that. Most likely, you have either a student minister or volunteers who can lead in these areas on a weekly basis.
Here are four simple ways you can be involved in your church’s student ministry.
1. Teach in your youth ministry from time to time
On a somewhat regular basis (think once a quarter or so), ask your youth minister or volunteers if you can teach the students. This will allow you the opportunity to interact with the students “on their turf.” If they can get to know you as the pastor outside of just your Sunday morning sermon, they will come to know you as their pastor, not just the pastor of the church where they attend. Maybe even come in and give the students a chance to “Ask the Pastor Anything,” where they can ask you questions about life and faith.
2. Take your students to camp
If you can attend the whole week with them, great! If not, take the opportunity to drive them to and from camp (if it’s within a distance that makes sense). Even if you’re not available to attend for the whole week, maybe you could drop in for a meal and a worship service. If none of these options are available to you, you could at least send a video encouraging your students and letting them know that you and the church are praying for them as they attend camp.
3. Attend students’ activities
Get your local schools’ schedules for athletics and other activities. Find out the activities your students are involved in, then attend some throughout the school year. If you pastor in a small town, it’s likely that a good portion of your congregation will be at the football game on Friday night, or a volleyball or basketball game on Tuesday night. Outside of sports, attend other activities. If you can be visible, it will give you a chance to interact with your folks outside of Sunday morning. It will also give you the opportunity to interact with and encourage your church’s students outside of just Sunday morning.
4. Involve students in the life of your church
If you can involve your church’s students, particularly high schoolers, in committees or ministry teams, do it! Maybe you could even have students involved in your choir or worship team. Have a student lead in prayer or Scripture reading on Sunday morning. Don’t be afraid to be creative when it comes to involving students in the life of your church. Remember, if they have come to know Christ as Lord and Savior, they aren’t the church of the future, they are a part of the church today! If you give them opportunities to lead today, that will help prepare them to be even more effective leaders in the future!
Published June 25, 2024
