Isn’t it great looking at all the examples of youth groups in the Bible…oh wait…there aren’t any! Even as the early Church began in Acts chapter 2, there is no designation of age-specific programming of any kind. Simply put, “All the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had.” Acts 2:44
Although we may not have examples in scripture of Youth Ministry per se, Jesus prioritized people ALL THE TIME regardless of age, status, or race. He included everyone in His ministry, including children and youth (remember Jesus wanting the children to come to Him in Luke 18? And that boy that had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish in John 6:8?) Jesus modeled for us that children and students are not simply the future of the church; they ARE the church!
There are many ways the church can be intentional about embracing students in the Church (youth workers – it starts with you!)
- Empower them to have a behind-the-scenes look at ministry
- Take students with you on the next Dollar Tree run
- Invite them to write welcome postcards to new students
- Encourage students to engage in church-wide activities (prayer nights, serving teams, conferences, etc)
- Ask students to come to church before the service starts to pray
- Equip them to teach and lead in a variety of ways within the church
- Encourage them to share their testimony, help them in the writing process, and provide them with the opportunity to do so
- Invite students to help you the next time you write a sermon
- Challenge students to be a lead worshiper whether on the stage or off
- Engage them in mentoring relationships and other serving opportunities
- Take a student with you the next time you visit someone in the hospital
- Invite High School students to engage in mentoring Middle School students
- Have your students plan the next service project from start to finish
As leaders of youth ministries around the country, we should be the biggest champions for students, and their impact and role in the Church. We need to be the ones cheering them on, giving them opportunities, believing the best for them, and paving the way for furthering their impact on the church today as well as the church of tomorrow. No one else in the Church is thinking and praying for the youth as much as you are, so let’s make the most of the opportunity God has given us!
Angela Amerine
Next Gen Pastor, Kentwood Community Church
Photo by Rachel Coyne on Unsplash