Students Serving It Up

We want our students to experience personal ministry. We believed that something amazing can happen when a student takes off the spectator glasses and “jumps in” to serve alongside the adults of our church.

Students want to make a difference. But sometimes we make them into spectators instead of participating members of the church body.

Churches must create a system that encourages students to get involved!

We have created weekly opportunities students to serve within our church. Here are some things we are learning:

1. Everyone must be on board and see the benefit

Both staff and volunteers from the preschool, children and middle school departments, must see the value not only to their ministry area but the incredible value that it adds to the spiritual development of a high school student.

Students want to be treated with respect and they want to be seen as equals. They want to be given adult-size responsibilities.

Yes, they may have some growing up to do, but as long as they are treated like a valuable part of the team they will rise to the occasion! The leaders in these areas can help these students grow the most by treating them as partners in ministry and modeling for them what leading and serving others really looks like.

2. Ministry leaders are in the best position to motivate, train and celebrate the students that serve with them.

What this essentially means is that our students should be invited, placed in a position, trained, appreciated, celebrated and scheduled by the ministry leader for which they serve, just like our adult volunteers.

3. It's contagious!!!

Students that are currently serving on a ministry team are inviting their friends on the journey! So they are moving beyond the just "come and see my church" mentality to the mindset of "go and tell, come and JOIN me." By that, they are leveraging their influence and doing their part in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Do you allow students to serve in your ministry environments?