Meet the coaches and teachers who are involved in FCA. Offer services to the coaches throughout their many weeks of practices. Shag foul balls that go over the fence or offer to tutor students in different subjects. Bring snacks to coaches doing film work for the next game.
Funnel, Part 3
The last practical item serves as the final part of the funnel principle. Take students with you when you spend time with others! The door to long-term ministry at a school is the administration, not the students. But students matter too. The smallest part of the funnel is the students. If you’ve established great relationships with other entities, then students will start to wonder who you are and why you’re there.
Involve Students in Missional Youth Ministry
The best way to have influence on local students is to use the kids already in your local church. When I was a youth ministry intern (and not filling up a water cooler with ice), I frequently told kids what games I’d attend and what days I’d be serving on campus. This didn’t happen every day, but when it did I had much more influence than when I went alone.
One day when I took freeze pops to the volleyball teams, I asked Aaron, a senior, to come along. Sure enough, there was great rapport because several players knew who he was. This sparked a great relationship between me and the volleyball coaches and players.
Today, as a student pastor, I tell students when I’ll be at their campus to accomplish missional youth ministry and the building up of God’s Kingdom. It’s truly amazing when students get excited about sharing their faith because they’re seeing you attempt to do so.
If you’re not willing to get out and get busy sharing the gospel, don’t be surprised if your students aren’t either.
What types of missional youth ministry are you doing at local schools? A long-term commitment to serve students can reap a great harvest!
