BAPTIST LIFE: 4 suggestions on building a ministry to children and students – Kentucky Today

One lingering impact from the pandemic has been the absence of some young families that once attended church with regularity. As our smaller churches have at times struggled to rebuild a ministry to children and students, our team is asked if there are certain events or even staffing that will create a solution.

Often, our most strategic and effective solutions are not the costliest. If your church is struggling to rebuild a ministry to children and students, consider these ideas . . .

1. Lead the church to pray for this younger generation.

Even the most conservative estimates would measure the number of lost students in Generation Z in our country at over 50 million more than 10 times the population of our state! Our

communities are filled with young people separated from Christ. This must become a consistent and churchwide prayer emphasis.

2. Plan how the church will disciple and care for children and students before they begin to attend.

There are some churches that are frustrated that no young people attend. However, if the Lord quickly brought a dozen teenagers, would the church be ready with a plan to disciple and minister to them? The lack of numbers now should not limit the plans for tomorrow.

3. Make an intentional effort to partner and serve a local school.

Our schools contain the greatest concentration of lost teenagers anywhere in our communities. Churches should seek sincere and ongoing ways to serve and partner with a local school campus

to build friendships with leaders and help support its work of education. Again, the priority is to serve the school, not use it as a bulletin board for church events.

4. Do for one young person what you would love to do for many.

Instead of lamenting the lack of a strong ministry, as a leader resolve to mentor and disciple one young person in your community. Be an example to the flock and equip members of the church to do likewise. These are the relationships that will bring children and students to our churches.

Recognize that reaching and discipling children and students is the ministry of the church not a few volunteers or even staff members. The task is difficult, the work is messy, but the stakes are too high to neglect this essential ministry.

Matt Flanagan is children and student ministry consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention.

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BAPTIST LIFE: 4 suggestions on building a ministry to children and students - Kentucky Today