Their eyes were wide with confusion. Their expressions asked, “What’s Chris doing here?” To show them that I was real I waved and in response they sheepishly smiled, not sure what to make of the situation. I told them that I was there to help out with the Campus Life Club. Still confused they said, “Hello” and headed for their lockers.
While their surprise was amusing it was a reminder that I need to be more present outside my office. While we cannot be present at all times to every one of our teens we can figure out ways to be more present in their different environments because it’s getting harder and harder to convince them to join us in ours.
It’s not only important for parishes to create community for the young church it’s also important for the youth ministry to be present in theirs. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as bagging lunch and walking into a school cafeteria. To enter into the life of your teens outside of the ministry you need to be strategic with the relationships your form and:
PARTNER WITH PARENTS
Partnering with parents is more than just providing programming and resources. It’s sitting down with moms and dads who can give you a sense of the culture that surrounds their children. To get a sense of what is going on, we need to reach out to parents and engage in conversations where you ask them about what’s going on. It’s asking them how they gather information about the school, sports, and clubs.
When you connect and work with parents, they’ll connect you to teachers, coaches, and administrators that have valuable connections with teens. Parents can open doors for you if you allow them. You need to show them that they matter and listen to what’s going on in their lives.
FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
While it would be nice to walk onto a school campus and hang out with teens, it’s not always practical or allowed. To get onto campus, you need to reach out to people or groups who are already present. If there is a Christian club (e.g., Young Life or Fellowship of Christian Athletes) already present inquire about volunteering with them. If there is a sport, look into coaching. If there are opportunities to volunteer for a dance or a club get involved. I’ve even seen youth ministers with a background in teaching come in as substitutes.
You might not be allowed to preach the Gospel while on campus, but you can still be present. Over time the relationships you form with teens and administrators will improve and the opportunity to share Christ will be a little more friendly.
Be creative, and see if there is an area where you have a skill, talent or opportunity to get involved. Not only will you be able to connect teens to your parish, but have an impact on the lives of the adults who serve alongside you.
ENGAGE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
It might be the most difficult approach, but forming relationships with principals, and administrators, the outcome is priceless. The first approach is to reach out to them, and find time to chat. Make that first encounter an opportunity to get to know them, and what they are facing. Make sure you show them that you are for them and don’t necessarily want anything from them except to form a relationship.
Any collaboration will come over time, but you need to earn their trust. People are more likely to work with you when they see that the relationship is authentic. As you get to know them more feel free to invite them to be a part of your initiatives, even if they aren’t a Christian. The relationships you can form will break down any barriers, and you will find yourself serving as a resource for that school.
Your ability to get out of the office, and into the community communicates that people are worth the effort. Your actions to see them will be a witness of God’s unconditional love. So, don’t sit still, get out there and be present.
How do you attempt to be present in the community?
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