After more than 25 years of youth ministry, God opened a new door for me! And, let me tell you, you need to come through the door with me, friends.

Coming In Through The Backdoor

When I first started full-time vocational youth ministry, I volunteered in my students’ schools when and where I could, trying to get in through backdoors just to be there.

In different schools, I volunteered to chaperone dances, cover the counseling receptionist’s desk so the counseling staff could have monthly meetings, file documents and answer phones (pre-HIPPA), speak at Career Days, and sponsor a “First Priority” club. For a season, my network of youth pastors and I served free tacos monthly at an alternative school during lunch.

I would let my students know ahead of time to look for me at their school and many of them would drop in to say “hi” and leave encouraged and hugged! They knew I didn’t have to be there, but I chose to be there to support them in their ministries at their school mission fields.

The Outsider

It was a cool connection time with my students, but the teachers and staff treated me as an outsider. Because I was. The staff and teachers without a believing background didn’t understand why I was there. I think they were concerned that I had a nefarious agenda and kept waiting for me to let them down. Though I had some cool conversations with staff, it wasn’t quite the right fit.

When I had my own children, my volunteering slowed because I realized I needed to spend my time in other ways to be effective at both parenting and youth ministry. I kept feeling like there must be another way to minister at the school as an insider and keep my family #1.

Coming in Through the Front Door

This year I finally found the way in, right through the front door. This way into the schools not only meets my students’ needs for support, but it meets a need that schools all over the country are desperate to have met right now.

I am a substitute teacher.

I’m still a youth pastor and the staff REALLY want me in their school to help them. I went through all the proper channels to serve within the school system and they know who I am and what I do.

Substituting might be the key to getting you in the door to closer and even more effective ministry to your students, to lost students who won’t step in the door of your church without knowing you first, to other believing teachers, and to lost teachers and staff.

This Side Hustle is POWERFUL Ministry

There are a zillion reasons this side hustle is powerful ministry. Let me list a few of those reasons.

1.     There is a desperate need for care and supervision in our schools and you can meet that need in Jesus’ Name. The school sees the need for trusted adults to pour into their students. There are specific roles to be filled for the administration to actually keep the school running each day. We can help them make that happen while being Jesus to them and the students.
2.     You have the skill set that is needed to shepherd a class of students while their “shepherds” are away.
3.     You know classroom management.
4.     You are a walking game book.
5.     You know how to relate to teenagers and not be thrown off by or personally insulted by their antics.
6.     Most things no longer surprise you.
7.     You are flexible and regularly problem-solve and change plans on the fly.
8.     You can step in last minute and save the day for someone really in need just by showing up and you can keep doing your other job and be there for your family without taking away massive time from either.
9.     You likely know and understand teen pop culture references and how to change the subject and redirect when necessary.
10.     When your students see you (even in passing), you remind them of Jesus. They already connect you with their own faith and when they see you at school, they’re reminded who they’re supposed to be in their mission field.
11.     You can be a lighthouse in schools without preaching a sermon. You can shine in other ways like:
12.     Wearing faith-focused schwag (bracelets, earrings, backpacks, bags) along with the appropriate dress code. My daughter gave me a “Treat people like Jesus died for them” tote that I use as my sub bag. A teacher walked next to me in the hall this morning and said with a sparkle in her eye, “I like your bag, sister.” Now she knows she’s not alone in her mission field and I know who to go to when I have a prayer request or specific need!
13.     Having faith-focused stickers on your water bottle and computer. I’ve had my water bottle for a couple years and it’s got so many Jesus stickers on it because I love them and some of them are gifts from my students. It sits right on top of whatever desk I’m working at each time I sub. Students see me drinking from it and carrying it around. It preaches without me having to say a word.
14.     Showing up on time and being flexible. Though I’m new at this, the front desk ladies already love me because I show up ready to work wherever and whenever needed. I took a “second” sub job today during my “off periods” because they were short-handed and needed help. I am that hero.
15.     Directly serving the teacher. Take thorough notes for the teacher, follow their instructions, and clean up the room before you leave. Remember Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
16.     Encouraging the teachers and staff you get to work with. When I subbed the first time, God gave me the gift of getting to cover one of my son’s teacher’s classes for the day. I got to eat with his teachers and encourage them with things like, “You guys have a super hard job. I’m so grateful for you and the time you put in to teaching.” They loved the encouragement and felt empowered. Plus, I got 2 emails within the next week asking me to sub for them. When you know someone understands your job and the work you do, you want them to be the one to cover for you!
17.     Giving grace even when direction is needed. Subbing can be tiring. Students can be jerks (but we already knew that, because we’re all sinners). There are times when someone talks too much, disrespects you or other students, or gets out of hand. The coolest thing you’ll bring to the school with you is the Spirit of God and you can ask Him to bear His fruit whenever you need it. When things get frustrating, you can take a minute, pray, and respond in a way that represents Jesus even if you have to put the hammer down.
18.   Rooting for believing students not in your youth group. I got to sub for a handful of students wearing faith-focused clothing, bracelets, and having cool water bottle stickers. Whenever I see that, I tell them I really like their shirt/bracelet/whatever so they know I’m a believer, too. I’ve also pointed those students out to my students so they know other believers they can connect with at school!
19. Becoming someone students trust. The more time you spend in the school, remembering students’ names, serving and encouraging them, the more likely they’ll be to trust you. I helped one of my students start a Chess Club on campus and I volunteer every week. When my Chess Club students saw me in their classroom today, they lit up. “What are YOU doing here? This is great.” These students aren’t believers, yet, but I’m earning their trust by showing up when I can in their lives to open the door for meaningful conversations and invitations.
20.     You get to remind the enemy prayer didn’t ever leave the schools. I walk into the school praying and don’t stop until I’m back in my car. I pray for students as I pass them in the hall. I walk around the room of each class period (or read through the attendance list) praying for each student’s salvation and freedom. When someone starts acting up, I start praying for them. I pray for my students when I see them to shine Jesus’ light. I pray for God to open up conversations with the teachers and staff and God faithfully answers that prayer. I pray for the teacher I’m subbing for as I’m sitting in their seat. God never left the schools and you getting to be there is evidence that He’s still working and doing something new. You’re infiltrating the territory the enemy has tried to overtake and reminding him who it really belongs to.
21.     As you do your job well, you’ll be requested. As you get to know teachers, staff, administration, and the counselors, they’ll learn what your “other” job is. Guess who they’ll want to have around if anything hits the fan? You may be the first spiritual contact who’s called if there’s a shooting, a suicide, or a loss because they know you and you’re already part of their team and they won’t have to background check you to talk and work with students. They may even ask you to bring some backup to be there for students in need.
22.     This side hustle can help pay for the calling God’s already given you to minister to teens while you minister to teens. What?
23.     I vote for subbing as your #1 side hustle option, but I had a youth pastor friend who became a bus driver to spend more time with his students. Another youth pastor friend started a before-school Bible club and got a job as a football coach to connect with his students and their lost friends. There are many ways to join the school staff and make a difference. Again, I vote for substituting, but you do have great options.

Do The Work to be able to Expand Your Influence in Teens’ Lives

Different states and school districts have various policies on the hoops to jump through to get officially on campus as a substitute, but sometimes it’s just a degree in anything. Sometimes it’s a class you need to take. Of course, there’s a background check and references needed like any other job, but, friend, whatever is required in your school district, it’s worth it.

Do the work.

Get the badge then go walk through that front door with your armor on and go fight alongside your students in their mission field.

Guest post from Beth Meverden from @trainyourchild