If you stick around in ministry long enough you get to see your teenagers grow into adults. It’s fun to meet up with them and ask them about their new season of life, it’s also scary.
What if during the conversation you realize that they aren’t going to church? Worst, what if you learn during the conversation that they stopped believing in God? It would make you wonder:
Was my ministry really making an impact?
While you cannot control the outcome, you can have a significant influence. If you want your ministry to be more than a memory. If you want the teens in your church to continue to grow in faith even after Confirmation than you need to create systems, environments, and relationships that:
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THEIR PRESENCE MATTERS
The only thing worse than being rejected is being ignored. Many teens walking in and out of your church feel that way. As a youth minister you need to be present on the weekend not just to run programs but recognize the young people coming to church.
A simple hello and smile let’s them know that you see them. Don’t be afraid to shake their hand and ask them their name. If you aren’t afraid of rejection ask them to come to your youth ministry or an upcoming event.
HELP THEM SEE THEMSELVES
We all struggle to see ourselves in a positive perspective. This is especially true with teens who battle insecurity due to a variety of reasons (i.e. puberty, social angst).
As adults we need to help them see themselves as God sees them. This comes from:
- Introducing them into positive relationships through small groups and mentorship
- Giving them tools and resources to discover how God has gifted them
- Inviting them on retreats and opportunities where they experience God in an intimate setting
- Showing them how to articulate their faith and what God is doing in their lives
Your ministry needs to help a young person find that confidence in themselves. They need to be able to see that God has shaped them in His image. Start looking at systems in your ministry and parish that do that and invest in them.
GIVE THEM A ROLE AND PLACE AMONGST LEADERS
Your influence will only go so far. In order for your impact to hit the next level you need to find places in your parish where teens are leading and surrounded by leaders. The challenge with this is the fact that it involves coworkers stepping up, but the reward is worth it.
Make a list of people in your parish who are successful in faith and life. Ask them to mentor 2-3 young people by serving alongside of them in the parish. Have that mentor commit to:
- Praying with them before and after service
- Connecting with the parents and other family members
- Sharing with them tools and tips to success in their industry, life, and faith
- Empowering them to lead their peers in the same area
If you struggle to find those people then get your pastor’s permission to involve them in parish council or a high leadership meeting. They can just observe at first, and over time find opportunities for them to collaborate.
The more you can expose teens to a culture of leadership the more invested they will be in your parish. If you want to influence teens you need to show them that they matter.
Sit down with your team and coworkers to look at the different ways you can influence the next generation. Make a commitment to name one or two, so that years later you aren’t wondering, “How could I have influenced them more?”
In what ways are you influencing the next generation?
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