“I only have three youth coming to youth group/bible study, does that mean I’m not doing a good job?”
I remember having my first youth group at my church when I first started. I was so excited because I was ready to invest in the lives of high school students as I remembered the struggle of being one of those kids dealing with the drama, angst, and explosion of hormones running rampant in my veins. I was ready to “build relationships” with them and create a large youth ministry at my church.
Our game would be Ultimate Frisbee, an easy, simple, fun, game to get all students involved no matter what. Even if they stood in the middle of the field and caught the Frisbee, they would be involved and engaged and still make relationships despite their amount of involvement. I would still be proud. 6:30 rolls around, and I am thinking, “Here. We. Go.”
One student showed up.
And that was it.
One. He walks in the door with a confused look on his face that I could only read as, “Where is everyone else?” I was thinking the same thing too. After making some small talk with him for about ten minutes, I ashamedly sent him home, in hopes that we could try again next week. My drive home consisted of a conversation with God regarding doubt in my ability to gather kids together, doubt in my ability to excite them for youth ministry, and to be an effective Youth Leader.
And so the next week came, and two students showed up. We played in the gym for an hour and that was it. The week after that, the same two students showed up. A month passed by, the same two students continued to attend.
With the potential that our church had to gather students into a place of community with one another, I kept wondering why students would never show up to Youth Group. After a couple of months of the same two students attending each week, I finally worked up the courage to ask them, “What gives?”
The students had no idea why others didn’t show up, but I had the realization after my conversation with them:
Our Youth Ministry lacked consistency.
“God has given volunteers a heart not only for ministry in general, but for service to the people God created.”
Youth Group on Sunday evenings were led by a couple before me. And not to blame them, but their ministry to these students lacked consistency. Yes, they did events, fundraisers, even service projects throughout their years of serving, but most of the time when they held Youth Group, it was not on a consistent basis.
If there is anything that I could encourage you to think about in your ministry to other students, it is this:
“How consistent are you in your ministry to others?”
Consistency in holding Youth Group once a week does not mean that your Youth Ministry will grow to 30 students over the next year. There are other ways ministers of the Gospel can continue to be consistent. Here are some thoughts:
- Are you consistent in showing up at events for your youth?
Students not only value that you showed up for a one time event, but that you keep up with their life outside of Youth Group and church ministry. Make an attempt to attend their games on a monthly basis, bring your family to one of their musicals or shows, or even ask them about how some of their extracurriculars are going. Students value that you care. If they see your presence at something they love doing, you might just see their presence at something you love doing, too.
- Are you consistent in your promises?
Your students need someone to depend on. They can depend on their parents for taking them to practices and rehearsals, providing dinner on day-to-day basis, but can they depend on you and your word? Often times, we may fall into the trap of saying we are going to do something, and something comes up. How well do you communicate whether you are going to follow through with your word? Even if you have to cancel Youth Group or showing up to any event, how well have you communicated? I know I have failed many times in communicating on time whether I would be there for an event. Again, students need to be shown you care. This helps for students to advocate for you when they invite their own friends to be a part of the Youth Ministry God has placed in your heart.
- Are you consistently setting an example for your Youth Ministry?
I believe this is one of the most important aspects you can bring to the table in your Youth Ministry. Not only am I talking about your attitude when you’re around your kids and at home, but what kind of consistency are you building in the DNA of your Youth Ministry? Are you poking fun at certain students to “try” to connect with them? You might incidentally be creating a DNA of disrespect and childlike maturity in the Youth Ministry at your church. How consistent are you in building others up, setting a Christ-like environment of serving others, or even building a missional DNA to encourage students to invite their friends to the ministry God has gifted you with?
Father, I pray for all students involved in Youth Ministry and for all the volunteers and full-time workers you have placed in the role as Youth Leader. Lord, I ask that you would instill in us a sense of consistency in our ministries. Far too often, the ways of the world, and schedules may keep us off track with connecting with your children. Bring us to a realization for the need of the Gospel to be spread to our students, and that you would create in us a need to seek the lost and that you would bring them home to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
A.J. Vega is the Director of Christian Education at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Memphis, TN. He is involved in leading Middle School and High School Ministry, College and Young Adult Ministry and takes on many other roles at Immanuel. A.J. is married to his beloved bride, Krissy Vega, who is also involved in Youth Ministry at Immanuel. Both were Interest Speakers in the 2016 National Youth Gathering in New Orleans, LA titled, #RelationshipGoals. You can follow A.J. on Twitter and Instagram @thebossajv.