This is a tricky one.  It’s almost wants to be restated as ‘what are you going to do to keep the students in the ministry’; because in essence parents want to know what the youth pastor is going to do to get the kids connected/consistent.  One of my friends once said that ‘you keep them with what you caught them with’.  I could easily produce a service that could emulate the things we see in our society…draw huge crowds, but at the end of the day I have to ask myself will the students stay if the bells and whistles are gone?  Students can connect…here’s how….

Life change does not happen with great productions.  Just look at the super bowl half time show.  I watched it…my life was not changed…in fact I pretty much forgot about it until this post.  Sure it was entertaining…but it had no lasting effect.

Students want to connect.  In fact we see that data (from Walt Mueller) suggest that approximately 50% of our HS students want to have guidelines and parameters. Students connect via relationships…real relationships.  We are not going to engage MS or HS students with questions about the weather or sports teams.  We are going to engage them by letting them know that they are messed up…. that they are normal (to a certain degree 🙂 ).  Building relationships builds trust.  Building trust gives the ministry a platform to speak into a student’s life.  Ministry should be consistent.  Ministry should point to Christ period. When we do this, and are genuine in our approach to building community and relationships the students will connect.

So what do you as a parent need to do?  Be consistent. Building relationships takes a few weeks.  Most of our students are connected by week 2 or 3 of attending a service.  Support your child’s faith; push the importance of getting connected.  The worst thing you can do as a parent is to let your child dictate if he or she will attend youth.  We are given instructions as parents on raising children.  Raise them, let us assist you, and let’s grow the next generation of leaders!