Why Teens Will Come Back To Your Ministry

From free burrito nights to mandatory attendance we’ll do anything to attract teens to our ministry. But, sometimes the challenge isn’t getting them there initially, it’s making sure they come back.

Why do teens come back to your ministry? It’s a question my ministry asks our every year. The answer wasn’t games, food or cool prizes. The reason teens came back was because of the:

RELATIONSHIPS THEY HAD FORMED

It wasn’t a surprise but a reminder of our ultimate goal. As youth ministers we want to connect teens into a personal and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as putting teens in small groups. We have to make sure we’ve created an experience that leads them to that moment.

Creating a relational ministry starts before your ministry even begins. Here are three questions that can help us determine whether or not we are doing that:

ARE OUR EXPECTATIONS TOO HIGH FOR THE TEENS?

When you grow up in the church it’s easy to assume that others have had a similar experience. But that assumption can create INSIDER language and behavior. Are you expecting teens to know:

• The big and small traditions of your group?
• Insider jokes and terminology?
• How to behave and what to do when they arrive?

Teens that are new to your group and even to Christianity are going to be self conscience. If they feel too much out of their comfort zone they may not return.

The solution isn’t to dumb down what you do, but to bring clarity to what you do and why you do what you do.

HOW DO TEENS KNOW THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE?

Teenagers want to fit in and they are looking for someone to affirm that they are in the right place. To cut down on those nerves:

• Make sure the information about your program is easy to find online
• Having greeters at your doors ready to welcome and answer questions
• Thank teens for coming when you introduce yourself

It’s quite simple; however, we can easily forget that these small details can have a large impact. Discuss with your team how you can affirm teens that God has them right where they need to be.

DO TEENS KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WANT THEM TO COME BACK?

If you’ve provided a welcoming a loving experience teens will want to come back. Sadly, they face so many obstacles like BUSYNESS that we need to:

• Have our small group leaders check in on them
• Reach out to parents to see how they are doing
• Send a note of encouragement before a test or a game

Any point of contact during the week is going to let them know that you care about them and hope to see them again. Work with your team on a system where your ministry can creatively and consistently be a part of a teen’s week.

Make your ministry an experience where teens know they are loved and valued. Connect them in relationships and remove the obstacles that cause them to wonder, “Do they really care that I’m here?”

Teens that know that they are in the right place will not only come back each week, but bring their friends as well. They’ll invest themselves in your ministry and form a life long relationship with the church.

How are you increasing the odds that teens come back to your ministry each week?