A Great Investment

Youth Counselor Mark taking time to invest

We have all heard the old cliche, "There is no I in the word TEAM."  And we get the point, that the team is more important that the individuals who make it up.  It is a valid statement.  There is, however, an "I" in the word ministry. Two actually.  And today's youth ministry lesson is brought to you by the letter "I."  Hit it, Elmo....

Over my many years a youth pastor there were a number of things I hoped would happen when I met new teenagers who seemed interested in our student ministries.  At some point this became a list I called The I's Have It, and it read something like this:

• Invite- Sometimes those of us who work in churches have the attitude that if our programs, facilities, publicity and staffs are flashy enough then new people will discover us on their own because we are just that good.  WRONG! If you want new folks to show up, then you had better get serious about inviting them.
• Include- Once new students come through the door, you have to give them a reason to stay.  Greet them and have students who greet them.  Have music playing and things happening BEFORE your scheduled start time.  Find ways in your setting to make it feel like that from the minute they enter your youth room they are a part of what is going on- and that what is going on is something very cool.
• Identify-  I was never a big fan of singling out newcomers, but as a youth ministry staff you do want to quietly identify the guests.  Take note of who they hang out with and what seems to interest them.  Make sure you get their information (I was always a big fan of sign-in guessing games so you get everyone's info every single week. Makes everyone equal!).  And make absolutely certain that YOU speak to them and tell them how happy you are that they chose to spend their valuable time with you.
• Inspire-  Once you have given them a reason to stay, you should give them a reason to come back.  You want to inspire them in as many ways as possible.  They should have fun. They should learn. They should make new friends. Every youth meeting should be a chance to build community and inspire young people to follow Jesus.
• Illuminate- No student should ever leave a youth meeting without hearing the message that while the world may seem dark, Jesus is the Light that shines in that darkness- and the darkness cannot overcome it!  Never miss a chance to illuminate the life of a teenager with the love of Jesus!

Looking back, I can say that that was a pretty good list.  But it was missing one very large capital I-  INVEST.  We want teenagers and parents to invest their valuable time, talents and money in our ministries.  In order for youth ministry to truly work, youth pastors and volunteers have to be willing to invest time and energy in the lives of the students they serve.   We have to be at their ballgames, dance recitals and band concerts.  We must listen to their stories of broken romances and painful relationships.  We must be there for them with the love of Jesus when they fail and when they fall.  There are very few guarantees in ministry.  But here is one promise I can make you- if you focus on investing in relationships with the teens you serve, it will make a difference.  Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow.  But when they call for your advice 20 years after graduation, you will know that you made a sound investment.  It still amazes me most everyday.

So as school begins, crank up your fancy programs, break out out your best games, hire the best guest speakers and dazzle the students of your community.  Go  for it!  But when the dust settles, remember the bottom line. Build relationships- because nothing beats a great investment.

Because of Jesus,