Your students aren’t just the church leaders of tomorrow; they are the leaders today. Students are an integral part of the life of the church. They are hilarious, smart, capable, and willing to serve the church and our communities.

1 Peter 4:10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” This verse isn’t just for adults. It’s for believers, and this includes students. Part of our responsibility as student workers is to help students find a spot to serve.

Why Teens Should Serve

Eyes Off Themselves

Being self-focused is an issue for all of us but especially teens. As they are growing and developing, it’s easy to be inward-focused. When we allow students to serve in the church, it gives them the chance to take the attention off themselves and put it onto others.

Kingdom Work Gets Done

Students can be some of the most passionate and on-mission people. I’ve seen students serve as integral parts of the ministries of our church. Whether they dance on stage for kid's ministry, hold doors before the service, or lead Bible study groups in their high schools, our teens help bring people to Jesus.

Students Become Invested

There’s a massive difference between a student who invests in a ministry and one who just shows up on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights. When students are committed to an area of the church, they become invested in what God is doing there. They don’t want to miss it. They realize that people are counting on them to help and be a part of what Jesus is doing. When this happens, it makes church not just something to simply attend but something of which to be a part.

Mental Health Issues Decrease

The mental health statistics for teenagers are alarming. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are all on the rise; however, research has shown that serving others can help with depression, calm, and general well-being.

Often, God Uses Their Service to Call Them into Ministry

Not only does service help build healthy habits in the lives of the teens in your ministry, but God could use that service to call the students into ministry. By allowing students to serve, you make way to give Jesus an opportunity to mold and stretch and potentially call students to a deeper walk with Jesus.

How Do We Encourage Students to Start Serving?

It begins with teaching them that serving is important. They must know that there is a place they can serve in the church and that they are needed and wanted in those positions. We also need to create an easy way for them to onboard into serving. When we pave the way, we remove the obstacles that students could have to begin serving.

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There are several places in a church that students can serve: they can work in the nursery or kids’ ministry, be a door holder, work on the production team, or help serve at events. Our students also can be on our student leadership teams, making things happen in the student ministry. From taking pictures and leading games to occasionally speaking to students, the leadership team helps put feet to the ministry.

As Jesus is our ultimate example, we see that He consistently served those around Him. We are never more like Jesus than when we are serving others. We can teach our students to serve others as He did.

Share your thoughts with others in our YM360 community:

• How are you encouraging your teens to serve in the church and community?
• In what ways can you help make it easier for students to serve in the church?

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