For most of us in Arkansas, school is back underway this week. That means many things for those of us in student ministry. Families are back on consistent schedules. Friday night football is just around the corner. And there will be more opportunities to connect with students. Returning to school is a mixed bag for our students, but it can be the most exciting season of the year for student ministry workers.
Among the various events that occur during the fall, there is at least one that many of us share — the Back-to-School event. If you are a smaller church, it may mean a bowling night. If you are a larger church, it may mean something crazy like the Mud Night that Antioch in Conway hosts. Whatever the size of your group or event, there are a number of important things to consider as you plan. On a recent episode of the Student Ministry Matters podcast (studentministrymatters.podbean.com), Chris Vines and I discussed 11 different things to consider. Over this week and next, I want to share some of those with you:
• Start planning earlier than you think. Back-to-school events require some thought. Too often, we don’t plan far enough in advance. Typically, you want to be thinking three months ahead or more when you are planning your ministry activities. That provides the time you need to enlist volunteers, clear things with leadership and properly promote the event. Three months or more ahead also gives you time to readjust your event date if needed.
• Aim for after school has started. The days leading up to school can be stressful for our families. Sleep schedules have been knocked off track because of the flexibility of the summer. Some children and students have a great deal of anxiety about heading back to the classroom. Our goal with Back-to-School events should be to provide fun and excitement, not just more stress. Unless your church has a tradition of providing a Back-to-School activity on the first week of school, Chris and I recommend waiting. In addition to helping to reduce some of the unwanted stress for our families, it also provides an opportunity to gather their friends and invite them to join in.
• Know your people and the area. You need to keep the traditions of the area and your church in mind as you plan. Your church may be the one that provides a first week back-to-school event. There is nothing biblical or unbiblical about that. It is just a matter of working within the expectations of your congregation and youth group. Traditions are not bad things as they can provide a level of security and anticipation for the school year. The key here is to know your people and community. That takes time and a desire to ask questions about what happens in the community.
• Know your purpose. This is huge. We don’t want to have activities just because they are expected. You need a clear reason to have or not have your event. Essentially, we need to be intentional in all that we do within our youth groups. Is it just for the fellowship of the church family? Is it an outreach event? Why are you having the event? Do these questions cross your mind? It is important to have a clear understanding of the “Why?” If we don’t, it is hard to evaluate the success or failure of the event.
• Involve your students in the planning process. Believe it or not, students have great ideas. While you may think you know exactly what they want to do, it is important to realize that your “great” ideas may fall flat with your students. Develop a youth leadership team that can speak into activities and other outings. They are more likely to take ownership and will invest themselves more deeply into the event.
Next week, we will cover the remaining pieces for you to consider as you plan out your Back-to-School event. Until then, pray about your next youth event and seek God’s direction as you serve and honor Him. We would also love to hear about some of your favorite Back-to-School events. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/groups/StudentMinistryMattersCommunity.
