Community Care Tips (cont.)
3. Create ownership.
Every time students get excited about community care, it’s because they’ve had ownership. Let kids come up with the idea, the approach, or part of what will happen. Sometimes it’s simply about a sense of purpose.
Recently, we desperately needed children’s church volunteers. The children’s pastor and I asked teens to run the service, with a little direction. Many students who volunteered wanted a leadership opportunity more than they necessarily loved little children. But we said if they “signed on,” this was a full commitment.
Now our teens run a “stations approach” kids church. Different students step into their passions with worship, crafts, games, and small groups. They do it all, and they are phenomenal at it. Why? They know that people need them, and they own it.
The Bottom Line
Start in your own backyard. Many times we overcomplicate this idea that students can and will extend community care. We assume that kids just won’t. But that’s not true! Perhaps the real issue is that we never expect teens to show up.
So start small, with a handful of students. Then see where momentum and service grow.
This article by Leneita Fix was originally published on YouthMinistry.com, © Group Publishing, Inc.
