How To Make Every Student Feel Welcomed
The other day I went downtown to a meeting. The only guy that I knew would be at the meeting wasn’t there yet, so when I walked in all I…
Close your eyes and imagine walking into your church on a Sunday morning. As you walk in you are greeted by teenagers with warm smiles. They are serving alongside adults creating a welcoming environment for all those seeking something more.
It might feel like a pipe dream but getting the next generation to serve at a high level in your church is doable. It takes time but the investment is something that will change your church’s direction. To develop real student leaders you need to first:
IDENTIFY THEIR QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
What does a leader of the next generation look like? What qualities and characteristics does he or she have? If you don’t know you’ll have a hard time creating a ministry that invests and commissions leaders.
Sit down with your core leadership team or coworkers to discuss these characteristics. Decide what you want and talk about different ways of teaching them to the teens. Your ministry should be designed to cultivate and commission the next generation of leaders and it can do that through:
INVESTING IN SPIRITUAL GIFT DISCERNMENT
It’s one thing to tell teenagers that they are gifted and it’s another thing to show them how. The HOW comes from:
- Tapping into their passions.
- Exposing their strengths and weaknesses.
- Looking into the spiritual gifts God provides.
In my book Rebuilding Confirmation, I share the tools we use to help teens discern where God is calling them. Another resource I recommend is Leader Treks, their mission is all about making disciples and developing leaders.
No matter what resource you use in your ministry make sure it’s helping a teenager discern their identity and learn exactly why God has put them here on this earth.
PROVIDING PARADIGM CHALLENGING OPPORTUNITIES
Teens not only need content that helps them discern their gifts but opportunities that demand they step up and lead. This can be done through conferences, mission trips, peer ministry and children’s ministry.
At a conference, they’ll learn more of the why it’s important to serve and invest in the local church. While these opportunities cost some money they are worth the investment.
When it comes to mission trips, and serving in specific areas of the church they’ll learn the ups and downs of leading others to Christ. They’ll be in situations where they have to make decisions that will impact someone else’s faith experience.
It’ll force them to think differently. Instead of looking at the church through the eyes of a consumer they’ll start seeing it as someone who is an invested contributor.
CONNECTING THEM WITH A WELL EQUIPPED MENTOR
If you could invest in each and every one of your teens in a one on one basis you would. The reality is that there are too many teens and not enough time. Pairing up a teenager with an adult mentor that they could apprentice allows you to:
- Reach more teenagers because it expands your capacity.
- Personalize ministry because they are now connecting their service to a relationship.
- Raise the level of adults leaders because they’ve learned a new way of investing in the church.
Teens are more likely to commit each week if they know that they are a part of a team that counts on their talent and time.
To find these mentors reach out to the ministry leaders in your church and ask them to refer someone who is equipped to lead by example. Interview the potential volunteer and make sure they have a good rapport with teens and plenty of patience. It’s a project that will start out slow, but over time you’ll see the hard work pay off.
GIVING THEM OWNERSHIP OF SOMETHING REAL
Teens not only need opportunities to serve but own the responsibility that comes with it. Instead of just giving them tasks within the youth ministry look for opportunities where they can:
- Make decisions that impact church events or programs.
- Lead others even if they are older than them.
- Push them to lead at a new level.
Before making these decisions talk to your pastor and whoever oversees the program. Advertise the opportunity and set up interviews. It’ll make them approach ministry with a perspective that will set them up for future job and leadership opportunities.
Investing in the next generation of leaders goes beyond sharing information. It’s about showing them different ways to lead others. Don’t be afraid of failure, show the teenagers that you believe in them and watch the amazing things God can and will do through them.
[reminder] In what ways are you investing in the next generation of leaders at your church? [/reminder]