Youth-Lead Strategies Reality begins with a written plan!
Adapt the following plan for your ministry.
JOB DESCRIPTION
A sending team of volunteers learn the plans of each graduating high school senior and helps bridge each youth to new ministries.
- College bound youth to campus ministries or a local church.
- Moving to new community for jobs, connecting to another church.
- Staying in our community, to a ministry within our own congregation.
A member of the team contacts and asks each student if it is okay to pass on their contact information, express the church’s excitement and desire to send them into a new ministry, connecting with a new group of people. Much of this is done in person at a reception following a baccalaureate service at church.
When youth are remaining in the community, a special all staff meeting is held to talk about what to invite graduates to be involved in. The staff decides who will do a personal “ask” with each youth.
Letters of recommendation are filled out and sent to new ministries.
THE ASK
Our youth minister is in charge of putting the sending team together. (One person for every 8 to 10 youth who will graduate. The first people invited are adult guides who worked with these youth during their confirmation experience. Others include adults who have been on youth trips or helped out with youth ministry.
PREPARATION
The team is prepared with an orientation meeting on a Sunday morning in the spring.
Support / Accountability
- Youth Minister will set timetables and deadlines, contacting each of the volunteers to check-in on progress and share appreciation.
Appreciation
- A celebration meeting will be held in the fall to evaluate, make adjustments and plan for next year.
- Appreciation for volunteers will be included in the church newsletter, to express excitement for this task.