STUDENT MINISTRY: We Gave Them A Bible . . . Now What?
While we may not always do the best at it, celebrating our high school graduates is the easy part. Handing them a present of some sort and saying, “Good job!” is important. However, we may not know what to do with them after that. Are they children or are they adults? While many of our churches are small enough that we can operate on a case-by-case basis, it is still difficult trying to figure out what to do with these young men and women.
In the US, 18-year-olds are considered legal adults. That simple fact can impact travel, rooming and camps. Because of that, we must think through the implications. Universities and healthcare both insist that 18-year-olds sign waivers for the adults in their lives to have access to their records and information.
While these are important things to consider, churches must decide what is next for their students and how they will be involved in ministry opportunities. How long are graduates allowed to continue in student ministry classes and groups? When can they become volunteers in the student ministry? What service roles in the church are open to 18-year-olds? There are all types of questions that must be considered. However, ignoring them can either push away these recent graduates or put the church in sticky situations. Here are a few things to consider when approaching these issues:
• Consider the history of the church. What has been the standard operating procedure of the church in these areas? Have they considered graduates adults or kept them in the student box? While it might be appropriate to make changes, you never want to go backward. If they are considered adults, then treat them as such and have them step into those roles, including stepping out of the youth ministry. It is always hard to make a change that is in conflict with 50 years of history, but at times, it is the right thing to do. Look to the past, but think about the future.
• Consider the safety of the students. There are a number of scenarios where it is simply inappropriate for a 20-year-old guy to be in the same youth group as a 15-year-old girl. While the 15-year-old may look older, they are still very much a child. It is important to keep our students from being put in bad situations. Youth group should be a place of safety and security. We have to take steps to ensure that. But what about the 20-year-old volunteers? Doesn’t that negate your argument? No. A volunteer or even youth director of that age goes into that role knowing there is a separation. An attendee of that age doesn’t draw that distinction in their mind.
• Consider the continued growth of graduates. Graduates are entering a different stage of their life. Many will pursue college, while others will get a job. This is a different place than the sixth grader entering junior high. We want to help our graduates continue pursuing Jesus. It may be necessary to form a college/young adult ministry or have these people move into the adult ministry.
These aren’t easy questions to answer, so we often ignore them until we are put in that awkward place of trying to figure out what to do. Be proactive and spend some time wrestling with these things.
We would love to hear from you and find out how you navigate moving your graduates from youth group members to their next phase. Share with us at either info@StudentMinistryMatters.com or through our Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/StudentMinistryMattersCommunity.
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Dan Carson
BMA Youth Department Director Dan Carson writes a weekly column titled, Student Ministry Matters, through which he inspires, challenges, and informs BMA of Arkansas churches and church staff about all things pertaining to student ministry.
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