Ask any church member, any youth, any parent, or anyone in general what their biggest challenge when planning a youth program “not enough time” will usually be a top answer.
Time is the one thing that we cannot get more of, no matter how hard we try. Since we cannot create it, the best thing we can do is to make the most of it. This means first acknowledging that we cannot do it all. Then second choosing to focus on the activities and relationships that provide the most value.
I believe that the same thing is true for student ministry programing. We need to make sure that our ministries provide value and meet the needs of our students and families.
We should be sure that our programming opportunities take in to consideration the schedule and priorities of our students and church families. At the same time we should consider the resources of our church, the schedules and resources of our volunteers and our own time and family schedule commitments.
The question that arises from this is “Are you Programming with Purpose?”
Here are 5 questions you can ask your self that will help you plan your programs with purpose and on purpose.
Question 1 – Who Am I Trying To Reach?
When you start off one question to consider is who are you trying to reach?
Maybe your job description tells you your target audience. You might be a Jr High youth minister or be in charge of Ministry to girls.
Or you have an entire age range of 6-12 graders who you over see ministry of.
The first question you might want to ask though is “Who are you trying to reach?”
Are you wanting to do an event for Jr High Girls? Looking to minister to 9-12 grade students. The reason this question is important is because it will help you to determine things like when is the best time to do the event?
If you are wanting to reach High Schooler’s then maybe Friday Night during a football game might not be the best choice.
If you are wanting to do a summer Jr High only event then you might have an extra week of summer. This is an opportunity with High Schooler’s having already gone back to band and sports practices.
Determine who you are trying to reach and then ask around and see what their schedules are. When you can see conflicts and what activities most are involved in, and this could help schedule and event most effectively.
Question 2 – What Need Am I Trying to Meet?
This question helps to determine “Why” we do what we do. I believe that we spend a lot of time creating programs to meet needs that don’t exist or are not that important. We must take time to identify and be honest about the specific need we are trying to meet.
The best way to determine the needs that are important to our church and our students is to ask them. Are they stressed? Are they in need of deeper Bible study? Do they need ways to share their faith with their friends? Do they need to come together as a group? Do they need a place to come and connect with God without distractions?
Each of these questions will lead to a different program, meeting a specific need.
If students are stressed out then plan a series on what Jesus says about worry, plan a game night where students can relax and hang out. Or perhaps prayer stations where that focus on letting go and trusting God.
Question 3 – What Are We Uniquely Equipped to Do?
As a church, and as a student ministry you have a unique position with unique opportunities. Taking time to identify the resources, people, talents, gifts, facilities, and other strengths of your ministry can help you to be effective in your programming.
You may be located near a school and can offer a place for students to hang out after classes. Your church may have members who are passionate about missions and volunteer and donate to mission opportunities. You may have access to a gym where you can host open gym or sports tournaments and game nights.
Maybe you have members who are creative and artistic who can help design sets, or lead drama and music.
By assessing the strengths and resources of your church and members it will give you the opportunity to leverage those strengths to help you be effective and efficient in your ministries.
Question 4 – What is God Calling Us To Do?
First of all I know I probably should have put this as number one. However I feel that each of these questions can be asked at different times and will probably be asked multiple times each in this process.
It should be with the help of the Holy Spirit that we discern the answers to these questions and in turn God’s direction will be come clear.
However I do think it is important to ask God if there is anything specific we are being called to. It may be to a specific group of people, or to a ministry or to a one time opportunity.
We must trust that if God is calling us to do something, that he will equip us to accomplish what he has set before us in our through our student ministry.
Question 5 – Has it Been Done Before?
Asking this question can yield a wide variety of helpful information. “Has it been done before?” can lead you to seek out those who did it before. It can give insight on what worked and what didn’t work. “Has it been done before?” can help you to determine whether it needs to be done again. “Has it been done before?” can help you find where it is being done currently, and help you decide whether you need to offer the same opportunity.
Hopefully by taking time to ask these 5 questions you will be more purposeful, efficient and have more impact in your programming.
None of these questions will tell you what programs to do, however the can help you to determine what programs to do.