Home Children's Ministry Leaders Articles for Children's Ministry Leaders How to Involve Teens in Children’s Ministry: 7 Need-to-Know Tips

How to Involve Teens in Children’s Ministry: 7 Need-to-Know Tips

3. Listen to their ideas.

Teens probably know how to communicate to the kids in your ministry better than you do. So ask their opinions, and actually use them!

I remember the first time my dad used one of my opinions. It made my day and encouraged me so much.

The picture is from a missions trip I took to Portugal, we went to the mall, and there was Darth Vader. My dad, my brother and I, of course, had to get our picture taken with him.

4. Remember: They’re just kids.

Give teenagers a break. My 3-year-old is so independent and wants to do everything herself that I sometimes forget she’s only 3. (Until we miss nap time, and she, like any toddler, becomes cranky.) Please remember your teens are still just kids. But they have leadership abilities and skills that you get to mold and direct.

The Infamous Holy Ghost Shirts.

5. Oh, yeah. They’re just kids. (This is so important it bears repeating!)

Forgiveness is key for knowing how to involve teens in children’s ministry. When teens make a mistake, forgive and move on.

When I was about 10, I was behind the puppet stage during the altar call at summer camp. We had a rubber chicken that made noise. I squeezed it (I have no idea why) and accidentally let it go. Thankfully, my dad, being a professional, finished the altar call.

I remember being so upset and sorry. My dad forgave me. But I can’t help but wonder where I’d be if he had reacted differently. If he had given up on me and said I wasn’t mature enough to minister the Gospel. my life would be very different right now. (We still laugh about this.)

6. Make church fun!

One main reason I stayed on the puppet team for so long was I had friends on it, and we had fun! On every mission trip, we had at least one fun day. Once we walked around Washington, D.C. Another time we went to a Today Show taping wearing our “Holy Ghost Takes the Chicken Out of Me” shirts. If we drove anywhere near Cedar Point in Ohio, we always stopped. Work hard, play hard, my dad always said.

This is me and my friend Leah at the Grand Canyon. We are still friends today!

7. Tell teens exactly what you expect of them.

If you don’t train kids and let them know what you want them to do, it will just lead to annoyance on one or both of your parts. When teens sign up, give them a paper detailing their job duties. They will need reminders. If they aren’t doing them, hold them up to it.

I’m so thankful my dad didn’t just throw in the towel the many times I messed up. I’m glad he allowed the church to be a real place for me. It wasn’t just somewhere we showed up on Sundays. Instead, he showed me what ministry is. He gave me a place and showed me how to set an example to believers.

If you want youth to stay in the church when they become adults, give them a place in the church now! Don’t wait until they’re “old enough” to do things. Let’s give teenagers a place in our church today!

P.S. We wrote a whole curriculum on leadership; check it out!

This article about how to involve teens in children’s ministry originally appeared here.