There has been a long-standing misunderstanding between parents and the student ministry.  Although not every parent falls into this category, most do.  It has been my observation that many parents engage in what I call student ministry drive bys.  They drop their kids off and no sooner then they make eye contact with a caring adult leader, they split.  I have several theories as to why this is the case, but for this post I will not go deep into them.  On the other hand, you have parents who want to follow their MS/HS student through the ministry by serving and being a part of their lives.  Which is right?  Is there a better way?  Read on…

It is the heart of every youth worker to have parents engaged in the ministry and in the life of their child.  There are of course healthy ways to do this.  The following list should help illustrate this further.

• Know what your child is being taught:  This is true weather your child is in children’s ministry, public school or the student ministry.  Parents can’t turn a blind eye to how your child is being educated.  With respect to the student ministry, you can follow what we teach by subscribing to our, or by simply stopping by and talking to your child’s small group leader.
• Don’t serve in the student ministry only to be with your child: Many parents try to ‘serve’ in the student ministry so that they can relate/be with their child.  Unless you have a heart for all the students you should not serve in the student ministry.
• If you are a parent, you ARE a youth worker:  Parents get on average 3,000 hours a year with their child.  Student Ministry youth workers get 40 hours a year.  Parents win!  In all honesty, what parent’s do with their time with their kids so far more valuable than what a youth worker does.  We want the most dedicated youth workers out there…so we make the most of our 40 hours; but math is math.  What we Do can only reinforce or go against what parents Do.  You don’t have to have a student ministry shirt to be a youth worker. We all become youth workers when our first child arrives.  Prepare…educated and pace yourself.
• Get to know your child’s leader(s):  It’s a proven fact, most youth workers love to talk about God and what He is doing in the life of students.  Get to know your youth workers!  You can do this on a Sunday morning or perhaps over coffee.  Doing this will give you a deeper understanding of the student ministry, how we are ministering to your child, and more specifically how you as the parent can more effectively minister at home.