Who are you trying to reach as a ministry? Are you just going after the teens who are already there? You know the ones who have bought in? How are you going after the kids who don’t see your ministry as an option?

Planning over the top events and working hard on an efficient ministry structure is crucial, but to reach the teens that need to be in your ministry requires:

LEAVING THE OFFICE AND ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

You won’t know who’s missing until you go searching for them. That means spending time in popular hangouts and getting involved in community events.

Build relationships with coaches, and teachers. Talk to the people who work behind the registers and in community centers. Create conversations about who’s out there and who needs to be reached.

CHECKING PRIDE AT THE DOOR

I used to tell people that I wanted to create a ministry that was different from the one I grew up in. While that’s not a bad thing I was also saying, “I want to create a ministry that I wish I had as a teen.” The danger in that thought is creating something centered around you.

To check pride at the door you need a solid vision and people who are going to hold you accountable to lead with humility. If a ministry becomes all about you then it will only attract teens like you and they might not exist in your community.

SENDING OUT ADVOCATES AND MISSIONARIES

Doesn’t matter how cool you are as an adult it’s going to be difficult reaching teens. You need to encourage and challenge your current teens to be advocates and missionaries. That means:

  • Teaching them how to tell their story.
  • Showing them how to invest in authentic relationships.
  • Giving them a vision of what it looks like when the church reaches the lost.

When teens take on the bulk of evangelizing they will not only reach more teens but more of the right ones. Your current teens will experience the joy that comes when you introduce someone to Christ for the first time.

If you want your ministry to have an impact on the lives of the teens coming to it then you need to constantly ask the question, “Who are we trying to reach?” It’s a question that will encourage you to constantly look for those who need to be found.

How are you reaching out to teenagers that aren’t attending your church?