Youth Ministry All Summer Long

Do you stop youth ministry at your church in the summer? Oh, I know, you probably do a service project or two, but other than that, is the program aspect of your youth ministry dormant in the summer? If so, do you really think that’s such a good idea?

Sure, everybody needs time to recharge and plan for the next school year. Youth leaders definitely need that time. Though I would argue that it shouldn't be all summer long. With vacations and other family activities, you won’t get as much participation in events, but summer is still an excellent time to connect with students in a slower, less stressful window in their lives (as opposed to the busy and demanding school year).

Ever think about volunteering to have your youth group work with the education team to organize and run the vacation Bible school? We did this and it was a huge success. The youth group built relationships with younger children in the church and from the neighborhood. The youth group really took ownership of the Vacation Bible school and was proud of its work.

Organize a trip to an amusement park or baseball game. It’s a nice, casual way to invite incoming students. Invite students to a Christian concert. There are plenty of Christian bands in every musical style and you might be introducing some students to a non-secular band they were unaware of before.

If you have students involved in summer sports or other activities, make sure you attend some of their events to show your interest in them.

Think about a Bible study for students. These could take place at a lake, around a fire pit, or at a coffee shop.

The key point to remember is that if students are either actively involved or interested in your youth group, they aren’t begging for a summer without interaction with you and the group. Sure, enjoy your summer, but enjoy it WITH your youth group.