I live in the world of Student Ministry. We’re constantly evaluating everything we do, learning new ways to do ministry and stretching ourselves to grow as a youth ministry. 12 years ago when I started serving in youth ministry as a volunteer, I knew nothing. 12 years later as a student pastor, I know very little…but enough to know what a failed student ministry looks like…here are five examples.
5. The Bible Only Student Ministry–The Bible Only Student Ministry is the one that has no fun, no laughs, no joy, no nothing. You better show up prepared to read the Bible, study the Bible and know the Bible and no more. There’s no time for games. #Fail.
4. The No Bible Student Ministry–The No Bible Student Ministry is the one that has all the latest gadgets, gears and flashing lights. They are stacked with the last video games, basketball courts and awesome t-shirts…but don’t talk about the bible stuff…students can do that after college. #Fail.
3. The No Structure Student Ministry– The No Structure Student Ministry is the one where there is no planning, no preparation, no communication, no idea and no results. This is the student ministry that most people think of when they think of student ministry. Chaos. #Fail
2. The No Leader Student Ministry– The No Leader Student Ministry isn’t one without a youth pastor…it’s the one with a youth pastor and no one else. Students are smart and observant. If the youth pastor is stressing to them that God loves them, the church loves them and they matter and yet nobody ever builds into them and shows up except the guy who gets paid to do it…well, you get the idea. #Fail
1. The Serve Me Student Ministry– The Serve Me Student Ministry is the one that is the center of attention. Every thing this particular student ministry does revolves around being served. There is no challenge to students to think of other people, no opportunities for them to serve in areas of importance and as a result, no real growth. #Fail
Student Ministry is tough, it requires lots of patience, lots of love, lots of Jesus and honestly, lots of #Fail. Don’t be afraid of failure, and don’t be dejected when you fail. Learn from it, pick yourself up and fail forward.