Last week I spent some time with a dear friend who leads a nearby College Campus Ministry. Some of our discussion focused on transitions to and from the college years. Here are two of the challenges:
Many youth ministries thrive because of fun and creativity. Often churches design their High School ministries around “winning” or “reaching” teens. But what are they won to? Teens find a place where they are accepted and loved and everything is done to affirm them and draw them in, but they are never challenged to DO anything with their faith. They are recipients of “ministry”.
In most Campus ministries, the staff is driven by a desire to be world changes and they don’t have time to “hold hands” or merely entertain students. When it comes to entertaining, they can’t compete with the options around campus so they call their students to leadership and impact, to being world-changers. All of the students who came from “fun” youth groups don’t have their expectations met in this new high-commitment setting and many drop out all together.
At the end of 4 (or 5 or 6) years these college graduates who were won by and deeply involved as leaders of collegiate ministry transition away from school and find that the adult ministry of most churches doesn’t provide many opportunities to be in front of the large group meeting or in charge of the Bible Study. These 20-somethings feel like their “leadership” isn’t recognized so their expectations aren’t met and they drop out. (until they have kids whom they want to be raised in the church and many come back).
A mature view of the body of Christ moves people to participation in the Body. It’s not about me being ministered to. It’s not about me being seen by others. It’s about being part of community where myself AND those around me are becoming like Christ in our thoughts, motives and behaviors.
One Youth Pastor suggested 5 steps that can be taken to move people from receiving felt-need ministry to being involved, empowered and having an “others” focus. Are any of these part of your small group or class?
5. Cultivate an atmosphere that allows your students to experiment.
4. Give away VITAL aspects of the ministry:
3. Challenge the ordinary:
2. Always give a measurement of growth:
1. Give them the license to FAIL:
MondayMorningInsight.com > 5 ways to effectively EMPOWER students