I am a veteran youth worker. I've been in the "battle" trenches for 18 years and have the scars to prove it. My campaigns have included everything from the egg-and-underarm-relay to taking kids on mission trips in third-world counties. Over the years there have been many different emphases for effective student ministry. I have used and experienced everything from huge events, sporting outings, concerts, game days, discipleship weekends, camps, retreats, and much more. Each of these events and programs make unique and important contributions to student ministry.
I have used many events or a programs to drive ministry with students, but purposeful ministry to students cannot be based on events and programs. To do so is a big mistake…and I should know because I have made this mistake more than once! What I have learned over the years is that the Kingdom of God is not a slick program, or a new resource that I found at the bookstore, it is about relationships. It is about our relationships (or lack of) that we have with God and others. It is about the biblical purposes that God wants to accomplish through His people. The best way to develop community and help students discover, experience, and live out the biblical purposes is in the context of small group ministry. If you have not read Purpose Driven Youth Ministry by Doug Fields, I recommend that you read, digest, and implement it. In this book, he outlines the five biblical purposes of student ministry: worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry. The five purposes are outlined in the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-39) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
I believe the very core of effective student ministry is student small groups. Small groups are about developing and growing relationships with others and with God. Small group relationships provide one of the greatest opportunities to communicate the good news and facilitate life-change discipleship. Ministry to students must be people-centered and purpose-centered in the context of small group ministry.
As we live from day-to-day, we must actively engage students to become fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ. The best way to accomplish this is through authentic community. We must help students experience the biblical purposes, and lead others to do the same. By developing small group ministry with students, we can effectively build community and accomplish all of the biblical purposes.
Here are some of the many ways small groups help us to develop community and accomplish the five purposes:
Student small groups create a bridge to the youth group—Unless students who visit your church or youth group are loved, welcomed and connected with other students, they will not be coming back. I believe that it is important to connect each student with six to eight people every time they come to church or an event. We do this intentionally even in large group settings by sub-grouping into small groups. This facilitates interaction to help the students connect with one another. Sub-grouping will build a bridge for them to sense they belong to your group and church.
Student small groups extend pastoral care—There is no way that a student pastor can minister to every member of the student ministry. Usually, if the group is over twelve members, he or she will be overwhelmed with the responsibilities of ministry. God never intended pastors or youth pastors to do "all" the ministry. They are in essence equippers. They equip others for ministry. Every member of your student ministry is a minister, and a mission field. This is as true for the students as it is for the adults in our student ministries. There are times when I am a minister and other times when I need ministry. In small groups, students and adult leaders learn that they are responsible to care for others in the context of a loving and supportive community. This is accomplished through listening, prayer, encouragement, accountability, and spiritual development. These are just examples of how the members of the small group express pastoral care to each other.
Student small groups create community—Everyone is looking for a place to belong. Over the years I have seen many kids get involved in self-destructive gangs because they are searching for belonging. What they really need is a constructive community of students who accept, forgive, heal, love, care, and encourage. Small groups can provide each of these vital elements of Christian community.
Student small groups enable crisis intervention—From time to time, everyone finds themselves defeated, overcome by the pressures of life, or just plain stressed out. They need someone to listen, care, and help. During times of crises, students desire a place that is "safe." They want a place where they can share struggles, fears, and find help without being condemned. A small group can be a "safe place" where students can receive and give help.
Student small groups can carry out the mission of discipleship—Discipleship has many stages. There are students who are seekers, new-believers, baby-believers, maturing, and those who are being equipped for ministry. A small group is a great place for a student to become all that God desires. It is a place to question, struggle, find answers, develop, and mature in Christ as they allow Him to transform their personalities. It can be a healthy place for accountability, confrontation, encouragement, love, or just to have fun as they learn and grow as Christ's disciples.
Student small groups help us to introduce students to the Good News—Small groups help introduce many people to the good news that may never be reached through programs in the church. At times, it is easier to invite their friends to a small group meeting at a house than to invite them to a church. Small groups can help us connect the student's story with the story of God. These small groups can help the unbelieving come to terms with the brokenness of their relationship with God.
Student small groups encourage and develop friendship—Small groups are the places where students can develop deep and lasting relationships. When we seek a healthy balance in student ministry, we will allow all members to participate in the small group process. This will help them develop friendships that will last forever!
Student small groups help identify and respond to needs quicker—Small groups usually are flexible and adaptable. The leader and group can respond to the needs of the students better and faster than any organization in the church. When needs present themselves, the leader and group can respond immediately. The small group is positioned to deal directly with hurts and facilitate the healing process quickly.
Student small groups develop leaders—through small groups, we are able to discover, develop, and deploy emerging leaders. In small group ministry we can intentionally train students with the essential skills for ministry. We can help them to develop the type of character that Christ desires for their lives. We can equip them to continue the process of discipleship with others.
The ministry of Jesus focused on God's purposes and people. Jesus translated the basics of faith and ministry to His followers through small group ministry. They traveled together, talked, hung out, shared dreams, cried, laughed, worshipped, ministered, and more. They did all these things in the context of community. Jesus used small group ministry to connect, share His life (the good news), shepherd, and develop His "students" for ministry. He invested His life into an unlikely group of young men that would eventually turn the world upside-down. In obedience to Jesus, they influenced generations of people with the same truths they learned and lived in the context of community.
Student small groups must be at the core of student ministry. This community connects them with God and others, and teaches them to live out the biblical purposes of worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and ministry.
