You Don’t Need Extra Time to Do Student Ministry

Okay, so I admit the title is somewhat of a stretch. Student ministry does take time, and lots of it, especially if you make building relationships a priority.

However, it doesn’t have to take as much time as you think. You just need some strategic planning. In other words, how can you build student ministry into YOUR schedule?

Some examples: Julia decided to invite her junior high girls to a lunch after church. Brilliant! It doesn’t require an extra trip out of the house (Julia is already at church) and doesn’t require extra time out of her day (Julia has to eat anyway). And—bonus—doesn’t cost her a thing because she asks the girls to bring their own lunch money.

Mike invites students to attend a Christian concert. Great idea! Mike wants to go to the concert anyway, so stuffing some senior high guys in his car provides several hours of pre- and post-concert conversation—not to mention months of sharing stories about the trip.

Chris invites some guys to work out with him. Great use of time. Chris is working out anyway, so why not have a spotter or two, along with some good conversation in between reps?

Lindsay invited her senior high girls group to go shopping with her. Again, imagine the conversation that can be had as they bounce from store to store—not to mention the laughs. Plus, every time one of the girls wears something bought form that trip, that’s an instant reminder for all of them of their time together. Imagine a student pulling on a sweater and being reminded that God loves her because her leader told her so on their trip.

The big question is not, “How do I find time to do student ministry?” Instead, you need to ask, “What do I like to do (or need to do) that I can invite a student to join me?” This works for just about everything: trips to the movie, walks, attending sporting events, getting exercise, shopping, visiting a museum, trying a new ice cream shop, going for a drive, sharing a meal, and yes...even chores! (You’d be surprised how many students will help you rake leaves.)