A couple years ago, we started to charge students to join a small group in our youth ministry. Why? Good question – honestly, I’ve had to explain this on occasion to parents, so writing it out here will help me articulate the answer. Just for perspective, as a youth group we budget $0 for Life Groups, the money raised by registration fees goes to cover resources, trainings and materials. Here’s the details:
LIVE Bible
The most important item a student will receive is their new Bible. This year we moved away from the Life Application Bible to use the LIVE Bible. Really, really like this Bible, excited to get it in students’ hands. The Bible retails for $22.99 but can be picked up for $15-18 pretty easily.Alternate Resource
In the case the student already has a LIVE Bible, we offered up some alternate resources for students to use over the course of the year. This year we gave a Bible study book or a pocket Bible commentary.Student Journal
We gave students a small journal to write down their learnings and record prayer requests from their group. We’ve printed different ones over the years, sometimes they’re simple like a little Mead notebook with a sticker on it, sometimes more complicated. Either way, we want students to have something in their hand to write down what they’re learning.LIVE curriculum
Students don’t feel the actual return on this one like getting a physical item like a Bible or journal – but they’ll feel it each week during the teaching time. LIVE isn’t cheap – $499 for the first year and $99 every year after, but we love it and it has quickly become part of our 4-year teaching plan.Training
Once again, something students won’t feel tangibly, but it should be felt intangibly every moment of the school year. We pour into volunteers, giving them training, discussion groups, resources (like 99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders) and more. Every minute we pour into small group leaders is a chance to pour into 5-10 students.
Not saying that your youth ministry should charge for small groups next year, but it is working for us, and students are getting a TON of bang for their thirty bucks.
JG
4
Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 15+ years and serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church. [
Latest Tweet
Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
Not only that, but I think having them make a financial investment into their small group gives them more ownership and strengthens their sense of commitment to show up. I like it.
Josh, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one and taking care to explain in detail why you charge. I’ve struggled with this idea in particular, and on a larger scale. The tension I feel is whether it be a life group, a mission trip, camps, retreats, etc. that are for the spiritual development of teens and we charge them to attend or be a part of it. I totally get that by having skin in the game it adds value, teens will be more committed, and certainly what they will get out of it is typically worth more than the price of admission. On an emotionally level, I struggle with the idea of them having to pay to be a part of things. Anyway, thanks for sharing your perspective as it helped me see the otherside of things. You’re winning me over. Thanks.
Josh, I was at Radicalis 2011 and this wasn’t mentioned. I wish it had. I like the idea. I totally get it from my church’s Awana program. Anyway. I am beginning to think that being turned on to your blog is one of the best ‘perks’ of the conference.
Thanks, Walter! Makes my night …