Working with students is one of the most relationally complex, multi-faceted jobs on the planet…
The parents, the volunteers, the Elder Board, church staff, the principal at the high school, the other youthworkers in town, the camp director, and round and round it goes. If we aren’t careful the pace of student ministry can crowd out the most crucial partners that we need for effective ministry to students. Here’s a list of the essential partnerships you need to have at your church.
The Senior Pastor
This relationship might be obvious but I rarely see it done well. I have had the privilege of serving under the same leader for the last eight years. I encourage every youth worker to be proactive in cultivating an honoring, honest, and servant-hearted relationship with their pastor. Is it complicated when your pastor is also your boss? Yes. But God has placed Senior Pastors as the shepherd of a local church and we serve as under shepherds. It is my job (and yours) to make their job easier, minimize surprises, multiply their values, act on their decisions, and extend grace to make this relationship work. With this kind of connection with my Senior Pastor, I am given the opportunity to speak into other matters around the church and request his influence for needs in student ministry.
Cultivating deep and time-tested trust relationship with your senior pastor matters! In fact, this one relationship could be the catalyst to fruit-bearing, soul-satisfying, long-term ministry or the reason for a frustrating and quick exit. Press in, be humble, and give it everything you have.
The Facilities Manager
This varies from church to church, but someone is officially (or unofficially) placed in charge of the facilities upkeep – a volunteer, a deacon or elder, or a paid staff member. Next the senior pastor, this is absolutely the most key partnership that you want to create. From equipment requests to set-up and tear-down to following fire code policies, do your part to win their favor. When the Dr. Pepper peels the paint off the Communion Table and when a 6th grade boy saran wraps the Baby Jesus in the Nativity Set, you will be glad that you have “points in the bank.”
I have found facilities managers to be some of the greatest personal friends and mentors that my church had to offer. Don’t miss this golden opportunity!
The Children’s Ministry Leader
Several years ago I was able to carve out a week to lead worship for Vacation Bible School because our Children’s Director asked me to. It meant a lot to her to be able to hand me a big part of the VBS programming and she continued to be one of student ministry’s biggest fans.
The leader of your children’s ministry can be one of your biggest advocates in your church. I encourage you to be in the regular practice of sharing equipment and space with them and help them in accomplishing their goals.
Soon-to-be middle schoolers (and their families) are also counting on you to make this relationship one of the strongest partnerships you have!
The Finance Manager
In student ministry, weird receipts come up and last minute payments for summer mission trips happen. With a good working relationship, these tight financial dilemmas become less dramatic. As much as it depends on you, stay under budget and try to keep the creative ideas from sending this relationship into a bitter tailspin. Thank them often for their ministry behind the scenes, share stories of life change in the lives of student, and prioritize simple expressions of gratitude on Administrative Professionals Day and their birthday. You won’t regret it!
In the week to week grind of student ministry, it is easy for these relationships to get pushed to the back burner. Make sure that doesn’t happen. Let this be your wake up call to reconnect with these individuals, dig up the courage to make things right, have a crucial conversation, or begin asking questions that will bring about a new season of healthy partnerships in your church!
