We often think of student ministry as what we do on a Wednesday or Sunday night. We gather our students together and think real ministry is being accomplished. While the work of equipping our students for the Christian life is important, ministry happens when our students get involved in serving the King in the world beyond the doors of our church buildings. What does that look like? One of my recent graduates was the president of their school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She spoke at their “Praise in the PAC” and “Fields of Faith” events. She chose to bring Christ to her campus. Over the years, I have had students involved in other ministry opportunities on their campuses and off.
The short answer is that we can’t just have weekly meetings and think that our students are doing ministry. We need to help them intentionally be involved in their communities and classrooms. So how do we do that? How do we help them move out of the building and into the world? Here are some thoughts to get you started:
• Teach your students about ministry. Show them what Scripture has to say about real ministry. The Word is powerful, and it transforms hearts. Share with them about the lost and dying world around them. Tell them about missionaries who are impacting the world in the US and beyond.
• Choose community organizations where they can volunteer. Find groups that are making a real-world difference. These groups can work with unwed mothers, the homeless population, the undernourished or others. You can do a local “mission” trip and spend a week in your own town making a difference.
• Celebrate those that serve. Whether it is your students or the adult volunteers serving with you, take time to celebrate those that are taking Jesus out into the community. You can do that at your weekly meetings or through your social media accounts. Our groups become what we celebrate. Take time to point out the good your people are doing.
There are other ways to help move our students to impact their worlds, but perhaps this can serve as a starting place. Student ministry needs to move our students out of the building and into the world. The gathering is important because it is a time of equipping. The gathered worship of the church is important because it is a time for the “one anothers” of Scripture. However, we have fallen short if we don’t help our students move out of the church and into the community and classroom.
Join us in the conversation at the Student Ministry Matter Community Facebook group and let us know how you encourage your students to carry Jesus into their world.
