Keep It Going

I’ve often heard people moan about the ineffectiveness of big youth ministry events like the 30 Hour Famine or summer mission trips. Such rants usually go something like this:

You spend a lot of time, energy, and money on X. And sure, teens are into it for the weekend but even you’ve got to admit, it has no lasting impact on them or anyone else. As soon as they return home, life returns to normal.

While that may be true for some teens, it doesn’t have to be the case for all teens. In fact, as youth pastors there are a lot of things we can do to combat the mentality that when the event ends, so too does that way of life. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Call out the passion you see in teens. Justice work gives us the opportunity to see teens in unique settings that others – including their parents – may never see them in. When you see teens get passionately involved in some kind of justice work, name that. Ask teens questions about why they find that particular type of ministry so interesting. Connect them to like-minded adults in your congregation who share similar passions and encourage them to serve together. Equip them with resources (like places where they can serve as well as books or articles about that particular area of justice work) that will help them in their ongoing ministry. Encourage them to keep cultivating their interest in that area.  

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