When you walk into a middle school youth ministry program the first thing you experience is a wave of noise, and faint hint of Axe body spray. For some it’s a feeling of intimidation because:
It’s a season of transition and ministering to this age group can be a challenge; but, IT’S A HUGE OPPORTUNITY! Research from St. Mary’s Press Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation In Young Catholics reveals that those who have disaffiliated with their faith did so around age 13. That means every parish needs to invest in their middle school aged teenagers. It also means doing something different from what you’ve done before. Whatever that is, don’t be afraid to get creative, think outside of the box and:
If you have a gym, use it. Give them free time before you begin, and free time at the end. Move from classrooms to small groups, encourage leaders to toss a ball around while everyone talks. Give them play-doh to fool around with while you go through the Bible.
In addition make it time to laugh so they know that God wants them to enjoy time with Him. Use funny videos and incorporate humor into your messages. It’s okay to be goofy and to make a fool of yourself. Your humor will disarm any tension they’ve been feeling from going through this tricky transition.
In addition to movement we need to give middle school students the opportunity to express their ideas and opinions. Instead of presenting a problem and just giving them a solution, allow them hash it out in groups and develop their own conclusions. In other words, if you are doing a series on outreach, give them time in their groups to figure out ways to fight against injustice.
Allow them to debate, discuss and tackle some of the larger issues with our faith because it will give them buy-in. Whenever someone sees themselves as part of the solution, or a part of a movement they are going to want to engage further. Middle school students are creative, they have a fresh perspective and haven’t been jaded by the world.
Because middle school students are going through a very chaotic and transitional time in their lives, they are going to need consistency and authentic love. That can come from adults in your ministry who are adaptable and empathetic. You also want adults who can laugh at themselves, aren’t afraid to fail and are willing to learn.
Keep them equipped with great resources. Check out leaders like Mark Oestreicher, speaker and author of many books like Middle School Ministry: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Early Adolescents and Dr. Timothy Elmore, researcher/speaker/author, you can find more of his findings at growingleaders.com.
Middle school ministry might be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be hard. It sets the foundation for a healthy high school program. It’s an age when teens are deciding whether they want to keep moving forward in their faith or look for another path. We can’t afford to do the same old so be creative, have fun and surround them with love.
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