I have been serving in Youth Ministry since 2003 and I have studied trends, topics, and statistics within Student Ministry. Over the last 10 years a lot of changes have happened within the Student Ministry culture, but nothing has compared to what has just happened to ministries because of COVID-19.
Talking with Student Ministries across America over the last 6 or 8 months it has become clear that no one was fully prepared for what we just went through. Technology and the way we even do ministry has now changed. In many ways all churches are now starting fresh. But what does it really mean or look like for you to start fresh.
For each of us to start fresh there are three things that we need to do:
WE MUST HAVE A PURPOSE FOR DOING MINISTRY. We cannot be focused on numerical growth, but instead on spiritual growth. Our ministries must have a foundation for students to walk into weekly. To build a healthy foundation you need to be built on teaching the Word Of God, investing in students, discipleship relationships, and helping students become missionaries in their settings daily.
WE MUST HAVE A GAME PLAN AND A STRATEGY FOR DOING MINISTRY. I know that each one of us who are pastors we do not preach to our congregation or students unprepared. Instead, each of us put in hours a week preparing and writing our messages. Well, the same thing needs to happen with how we do ministry. What is your game plan for ministry? What are your wins and what are your losses?
WE MUST BE TEACHABLE. One thing that COVID has taught all of us, we must never stop learning. As you start fresh in ministry Post-COVID, may you read and learn how to become a stronger ministry or church. Lastly do not be afraid to call up other churches in your area, state, or within the country to learn what they are doing to build a stronger ministry after the pandemic.
