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20 Mar 2023

Students Need to Serve

By |2023-03-17T11:36:28-07:00March 20th, 2023|Leadership|2 Comments

We know student ministry is a big deal. It’s an important aspect of the church. It provides a platform for students to grow spiritually, develop positive relationships, and establish a sense of belonging. But we can supercharge this in a big way! To enhance the effectiveness of youth ministry, have students serve within the group. Serving enables students to take ownership of their faith, discover their talents, develop humility, and disciple others.

Serving creates ownership. When students are involved in serving within the youth group, they feel a sense of responsibility and belonging. They are more likely to take ownership of their faith and develop a deeper commitment to the ministry. This sense of ownership not only helps the youth ministry to flourish, but it also nurtures a greater sense of community and togetherness.

Serving lets students explore the gifting God has given them. Every individual has unique gifts and talents, and serving provides an opportunity for students to identify and utilize their gifts in a meaningful way. By serving, they are able to experience different areas of ministry and discover where their passions and strengths lie. This process of discovery can be a powerful motivator for students to pursue their interests and continue serving in the future.

Serving helps teach humility. When students serve within the youth group, they are exposed to a variety of tasks and responsibilities. These may include cleaning up after events, setting up equipment, or assisting with activities. Regardless of the task, serving helps students learn the value of humility and the importance of putting others first. It is through these acts of service that students are able to develop a servant’s heart and a willingness to serve in whatever capacity is needed.

Serving allows students to disciple others. One of the key aspects of youth ministry is discipleship, where young people are mentored and encouraged to grow in their faith. By serving within the youth group, students have the opportunity to disciple others in a practical way. They can lead small groups, mentor younger students, and share their personal testimonies. These experiences not only strengthen the faith of those they are discipling, but they also deepen their own faith and understanding of God’s love.

Serving lets students worship. Do you have a musical portion of your service? Let students lead in getting it off the ground. There’s something really special about watching students lead their peers in worship. Also, it allows them to connect to God in a special way that they may not otherwise. God has given your students musical talents and abilities. Show them a way to put those skills to use as a form of worship! Not just in song, but with a song is a pretty cool way to serve as well.

Having students serve within the youth group can have a significant impact on both the youth ministry and the students themselves. Serving creates ownership, allows for the exploration of gifting, teaches humility, and allows for discipleship. By providing opportunities for students to serve, youth ministries can encourage the development of responsible, committed, and passionate youth who are eager to make a difference in their communities.

Ronald

Student Leadership Team Application

We use this is the application to begin a conversation with students interested in joining our Student Leadership Team. The application (and other forms) are fully editable to suit your ministry’s needs and includes sections on qualifications, expectations, and references.

Sermon on the Mount Prayer Stations

This is an interactive prayer station experience on what Jesus has to say about being a leader for the Kingdom of God. It takes the students through Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from the perspective of leadership through 12 different stations. This resource includes complete instructions for each station in WORD and PDF, a list of all the supplies you will need, other needed resources for the stations.

7 Mar 2017

Gray Hair, Yellow Shirts

By |2017-03-07T09:09:52-08:00March 7th, 2017|Volunteers|0 Comments

I was at a DNOW retreat this weekend in Georgia – and was BLOWN AWAY by something I experienced.

Now this was a big event, huge really. 24 churches combined, who have been doing it for like 24 years – this event had momentum and critical mass to spare. Just about every seat was filled in the massive hosting megachurch. But what impressed me from the minute I got there was a throng of yellow shirts and gray hair.

They were everywhere! I bet there was more than 50 older volunteers, most of them 60+ yrs old – all serving and loving students. It was incredible.

  • Parking lot hosts with little yellow lightsabers
  • Warm smiles greeting me at the door
  • Lots of laughter and fun with students in the foyer
  • Eager help at the info booth
  • Hugging students
  • Helping man each merch table
  • Backstage refilling drinks and snacks
  • The warmest security I’ve ever seen (they could have been easily outrun by any junior higher I might add)
  • Handing out food at lunch
  • Handling injuries
  • Talking to students
  • Helping lost students
  • Asking great questions to students
  • Sitting in the pews with students

It was a GREAT weekend – but the biggest thing I walked away with was a church that empowered the gray hair to serve students. Man, it was awesome! They got youth ministry! Incredible.

Gray hair, yellow shirts, HUGE hearts. Jesus would be proud.

JG

1 Nov 2016

Students Are NOT the Future of the Church

By |2016-11-01T06:31:14-07:00November 1st, 2016|Leadership, Youth Pastor Life|4 Comments

There may be some well-meaning people in your church who are excited about you being the “future of the church.” I had my hair rustled on some Sunday mornings in the foyer of our church by some gray-haired people when I was growing up, encouraging me to someday step up and lead. It was a nice gesture of belief and encouragement at the time, to know that I was to take responsibility at some point in the distant future.

And while those were very well-meaning people who loved me and loved Jesus, I think they may have also helped me miss an important lesson. God didn’t want me to wait! I was becoming a vital part of God’s work; I wasn’t supposed to grow up to be included.

I mean, think about it – many historians believe the disciples were teenagers. Some of the biggest and most awesome stories of the Bible star teenagers. Take David for example. If David wasn’t a young man, the differences between him and Goliath wouldn’t have shown God’s power as strongly. It sure seems like he’s in there to help us see this point … along with Isaac, Jacob, Rachel, Joseph, Samson, Esther, Mary and more!

Why do we think YOU should wait to lead the church, when clearly God loves using teenagers in His story?

I remember starting small – it didn’t hurt that we were a “when the doors were open we were there” kinda family. And it seemed like the church was always open! I served folding programs, sharpening pencils, greeting, evening singing on a few occasions! There are all sorts of needs in your church, try to match up the need to your talents. Women’s Bible study is coming up – offer to watch the kids! Men’s breakfast is around the corner, help fry up the bacon. Ah, bacon … sorry, got lost there for a second. These smaller opportunities to taste ministry, which led to larger and more significant chances, all helped me realized that being young in the church is a good thing, because God wants to use you now.

All of that to say … don’t wait!

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. I Timothy 4:12

God has already been preparing your ministry for you. He’s been working on you this whole time, too! Congratulations … you’re gifted. Gifts are meant to be opened and now is the time. So get involved today! Serve in your church. Use your talents, gifts and abilities now … don’t wait.

A message I want all of my students to hear loud and clear … you are NOT the future of the church. You are the church of today!

JG

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