Subscribe to the NetworkHow Do People Know Your Church Has a Student Ministry?
During the Refuel series I walked around church more than normal because I was doing the welcome in the adult services and running back down to the Refinery to teach the 3 weeks of the series in HSM. I noticed many students attending church with their families (we run the youth services during the adult weekend services at Saddleback), and even talked to a couple that didn’t know we had a service for them.
Then I realized that there was no intentional effort on our part to reach out to students that are already attending our church. Being invisible is one thing, this is another. This is about to change – I just submitted a list of tweaks that range from a bulletin blurb to permanent signs to raise the visibility of our ministry to high school students.
Something to think about today: when a parent or student visits your church, it needs to be obvious when, where and what your student ministry is all about. Walk around your church like an outsider this week and see how you do. Can a first-time guest easily identify your ministry to students exists, and know how to easily get into it?
JG
This is a difficult task to accomplish without being intentional about doing it. We have 2 services, 1 during sunday school where most of the students are in a small group and unseen to the congregation, but the cool part for me is that during the 2nd service over 15% of the worship service is students.
I have had to be very intentional about getting information in the worship program and announcements about the youth ministry to keep the word out to visiting families who may have students.
Thanks for your observations and insight Josh, it is a great remeinder to be intentional.