Youth ministry is all about bringing students to a life changing relationship with Christ and then helping them live out that relationship in such a way that others experience life change as well. And one of the great youth ministry resources you have at your disposal to do this are youth ministry events. But there are a few things that we as student pastors must consider when we are planning and implementing events so that we make sure that they are not only successful but also that they serve a purpose.
1. Don’t do an event just because___________ - You could fill in the blanks a lot of different ways here. You could put “because someone told you to.” Or you might put “because you always have.” Or quite possibly for some of you it is “because there is an open weekend on the calendar so obviously you need to add something in.” These all could be valid reasons to do things at time but they are not always the best reasons for you to have to do an event. So make sure that an event is really necessary before you begin to put the effort and resources in that it will take to pull your event off. Because while often times you may get some results and rewards from this undertaking there may be other better ways to get those same results and rewards that will cost a lot less time and money.
2. Make sure your event fills a need. – This gets into more of when you actually choose to have an event. You need to think through the culture of the place where you currently minister and the needs of the students there. Then make sure that your event meets those needs. For example, all students want to feel connected and that they belong and they desperately need that. So you want to make sure that your event is designed in such a way that need met. Now these needs might also be a community need and not just individual needs. For example, maybe there are many students who cannot afford school supplies. So maybe you throw a back to school bash and as part of that every student gets a backpack full of supplies. Or maybe no one in your community is throwing an after graduation party that gives students a safe and sober place to hang out on graduation night. Why couldn’t your church step in and provide that for the community? These are just a few examples but as you plan your event you need to make sure think carefully to what needs you are meeting for your students through this event and then make sure that everything you plan works towards that purpose.
3. Share the Gospel. - I do not care if this is a one night, one weekend, or one week event, you need to make sure that the Gospel is a part of every event. Whether you share it from a stage or just have your students out making connections and sharing the Gospel individually, you to make sure that people have an opportunity to experience life change in Jesus Christ. Because if the Gospel is not at the center of what we are doing then it has no part in our ministries.
Again, events are a great tool at times to reach students for not Christ, but not always something that we have to do. Also, these are just some guidelines as you consider or plan an event. Hopefully they will help guide you and make your future events more successful and something that has a great impact on the community around you. And as always, if you need specific help in what sort of events you could throw and how to plan them, please feel free to contact us. We would love to partner with you and make sure you have what you need to make your upcoming youth ministry events a huge success.
1. Don’t do an event just because___________ - You could fill in the blanks a lot of different ways here. You could put “because someone told you to.” Or you might put “because you always have.” Or quite possibly for some of you it is “because there is an open weekend on the calendar so obviously you need to add something in.” These all could be valid reasons to do things at time but they are not always the best reasons for you to have to do an event. So make sure that an event is really necessary before you begin to put the effort and resources in that it will take to pull your event off. Because while often times you may get some results and rewards from this undertaking there may be other better ways to get those same results and rewards that will cost a lot less time and money.
2. Make sure your event fills a need. – This gets into more of when you actually choose to have an event. You need to think through the culture of the place where you currently minister and the needs of the students there. Then make sure that your event meets those needs. For example, all students want to feel connected and that they belong and they desperately need that. So you want to make sure that your event is designed in such a way that need met. Now these needs might also be a community need and not just individual needs. For example, maybe there are many students who cannot afford school supplies. So maybe you throw a back to school bash and as part of that every student gets a backpack full of supplies. Or maybe no one in your community is throwing an after graduation party that gives students a safe and sober place to hang out on graduation night. Why couldn’t your church step in and provide that for the community? These are just a few examples but as you plan your event you need to make sure think carefully to what needs you are meeting for your students through this event and then make sure that everything you plan works towards that purpose.
3. Share the Gospel. - I do not care if this is a one night, one weekend, or one week event, you need to make sure that the Gospel is a part of every event. Whether you share it from a stage or just have your students out making connections and sharing the Gospel individually, you to make sure that people have an opportunity to experience life change in Jesus Christ. Because if the Gospel is not at the center of what we are doing then it has no part in our ministries.
Again, events are a great tool at times to reach students for not Christ, but not always something that we have to do. Also, these are just some guidelines as you consider or plan an event. Hopefully they will help guide you and make your future events more successful and something that has a great impact on the community around you. And as always, if you need specific help in what sort of events you could throw and how to plan them, please feel free to contact us. We would love to partner with you and make sure you have what you need to make your upcoming youth ministry events a huge success.
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