Place is such an important thing for students. Community often defines friendship and spiritual formation.

With this in mind we asked four youth workers: “As youth transition into our ministries, how do we help them become more integral to the community?”

Christina Robertson: First we need to get to know students. We need to know their interests, gifts and abilities. Youth group is a perfect atmosphere for youth to practice their giftedness. If they are interested in the arts, allow them to start making posters or creating game slides. If they are interested in music, allow them the opportunity to be in the band. This not only gives students instant ownership to the ministry, but it also allows them to practice being part of something in which they have an active interest. If they fail or realize this area is not something they truly want to commit to long-term, the youth group should be a safe place to allow them to try another area that might be better suited for their abilities.

Youth group should be a place students have opportunities to discover who they were created to be. Isn’t that the church’s purpose?

Fred Odouyoye: Building internal community within our ministries should have a balance of intentional thought, as well as an organic development. Most youth leaders will not be able to develop and disciple students beyond his or her own experiences. This begins with their relational capacity based on personal experiences. The best effort is to spend time within the places students frequent (e.g., school, extra-curricular activities, other neighborhood settings where kids congregate). This will help the trust factor with the individual student so that once he or she shows up for youth group, the student is more apt to embrace the intentional youth group community while helping establish the youth ministry culture.

As it relates to the greater community, I believe youth leaders are called to assist our students in becoming community savvy. This can be done by involving the surrounding community within the yearly planning of our activities. Help students learn of available resources such as the local police precinct (i.e., gaining a sense of the activities and boundaries for awareness); Child and Family Services (i.e., learning what support mechanisms it offers for family sustainability; best practices for home environments; local banks (i.e., money management, type of bank accounts, credit prep).

Students need to know God is involved in the management of their souls as they establish models for the upcoming generation and their own personal growth.

Paul Turner: I recently asked a young man, new to our group, to have lunch and with me and then help me with some work in the youth room. I discovered he was a fan of blues music, as am I, and I saw his work ethic.

I learned a while ago to spread with wealth when it comes to ministry, so getting kids to paint, set up chairs, organize, etc. are perfect ways to connect and build meaningful relationships.

Darren Sutton: Paul, I love that! I think one-on-one time doing something for the ministry creates such buy-in.

I do everything I’m able to get students involved in some way in one of our servant-leadership teams.

So, when they’re planning, helping and working alongside our leaders and other students, they’re becoming more connected to the folks and friends in our ministry, as well as the ministry itself.