How many teens attend your ministry? It’s a question we love to ask and hate to answer. It’s a comparison trap that can create insecurity and jealousy. No matter the number we’re always desiring MORE.
And that’s okay. You should want more teens to attend your ministry because it means that you have the opportunity to reach more with the Gospel. The challenge is growing the ministry and sustaining those numbers. If you want to boost your numbers you have to remember:
It’s one thing to get a high turnout to an event. It just involves creating a great experience, with a persistent and attractive promotion. If all you want to do is attract numbers for a one-time event then don’t worry about reading the rest of this post.
The next thing you have to know about boosting your numbers is that it’s a long-term project. Meaning, you are never done and it’s going to take time before you reach a critical mass. So, if you want to grow sustainable and healthy numbers you need to focus on these 3 areas:
Don’t just settle for warm bodies, set the bar by creating clear expectations with a captivating vision.
The more you invest in your volunteers the more they’ll invest in your ministry. They’ll be more than a bunch of doers and they’ll increase your capacity to care for and invest in the next generation of disciples.
One email, Instagram post or pulpit announcement will not cut it. If you want teenagers coming back every week and bringing their friends you need to communicate with them CONSISTENTLY and FREQUENTLY.
That means investing in software like an email service (I use Mail Chimp) or a texting service (I use DYM Text). What I like about services like these is it helps you analyze the effectiveness of your message. It will tell you what needs to change and what’s working.
If you needed, delegate this task to someone who has a communications or marketing background. It’s a volunteer position someone can do remotely and it will free your capacity greatly.
Why does your youth ministry exist? If you cannot answer that question you’ll only find yourself wasting money and time. Teens will walk into your program and wonder, “Why is this worth my time?”
Each youth ministry needs a unique purpose. That purpose has to be clear and compelling because it is competing with every other program, event, club, and team vying for a teenager’s attention.
If people know and embrace the purpose they’ll come back because they’ll want to be a part of something great.
The reason teens will come back to your ministry over and over again is that they want to be a part of something great. They want to know that they time they are giving you matters. That comes from committed volunteers, clear communication and a purpose that speaks into their lives.
[reminder] What other strategies have you tried when it comes to growing your numbers? What have you found successful? [/reminder]Have you ever found yourself wondering, “They just don’t care.” It’s a thought that comes from frustration, disappointment or just being burned out....
I have a five year old, which means he loves asking the question, “Why?” While it can get a little annoying it’s a question we need to be asking...
It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of buying the next big curriculum package. Promises of better content with incredible quality tell us,...