Wondering how to partner with parents and empower them in their important roles? Then check out these insights from youth ministry veteran Brandon Early.
After more than two decades in youth ministry, I’m still trying to figure out my job on a daily basis. That isn’t insecurity speaking. It’s a youth pastor admitting I’ll never be perfect at my job-slash-ministry. Pair that with today’s ever-changing culture, and just when I start getting good at something, it changes or becomes obsolete.
The toughest part of youth ministry? That might be empowering parents to win at being parents, partly because we have so much else on our plates. After time spent in meetings, office hours, and administrative tasks, naturally we want to offer whatever’s left to teenagers and staff. Yet parents need our support, too.
During certain seasons, I’ve thought, “I have a youth ministry degree, not a parenting degree. I’ve focused so much on being a youth expert that I’m completely unqualified to help parents with their role. Plus, I’m not sure that’s even part of my job description!” You might be in a season like that now.
When I just don’t know what to offer or what I have to offer? Then I remember a quote from Andy Stanley. “I don’t have the ability to fill anyone’s cup; I do have the ability to empty my cup for someone else.” That’s a great reminder of this important truth: I don’t need to know everything. Instead, Jesus empowers me to do something in areas where I’d been doing little to nothing.
5 Ways You Can Partner With Parents
These five ideas will help you get started:
1. Share information about culture and trends.
What are you learning about slang, social media, and teenage cultural trends? Do some research and pass it on to parents. Share information via email, or post web links on a parent Facebook page.
2. Provide plenty of parenting resources.
List helpful blogs, books, and websites in an easy-to-find spot on your ministry’s website. You won’t need to update that information very often.
3. Offer workshops or video training that provides digital interaction.
Use the camera on your phone, make sure you have decent audio, shoot in good light, and add the (short) video on all your social media accounts. This makes the content more accessible to more parents.
4. Have an open-door policy and post your office hours.
Invite parents to stop by at certain regular dates and times. Encourage them to schedule a meeting with you to talk about anything. Tell parents you’ll be at a coffee shop for two hours on a specific day. Make yourself available for face-to-face interaction with the people who can make your job a joy.
