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4 Foundational Summer Priorities

Gathering Student Leaders

As I’m spending time with teenagers during the summer, I’m always keeping my eyes open for the students that are ready to use their gifts and do ministry.

I was very selective in my wording there. I didn’t say, “serve.” I said, “ministry.”

Let me be clear. Any student can serve, believer and unbeliever alike. But only believers use their gifts to do ministry. We should provide service opportunities for all of the teenagers we connect with. But as students put their trust in Christ, we need to disciple them, and eventually, give them opportunities to not just serve, but do ministry. Service helps people temporarily. Ministry allows God to work through us and make a difference for eternity.

Jesus didn’t just hang out with the crowds. Although that was an important aspect of his ministry, He chose a team of disciples that he would build into and equip to do ministry. This team of guys continued Christ’s cause after His death.

Entire books have been written on what ministry by teenagers can look like, making disciples, and even building student leadership teams. My point: summer is a great time to begin the process. Start to identify student leaders who are ready to humbly do ministry. Plan a student leadership retreat or take them to a student leadership conference to equip them for ministry.

Who are the students you see who are ready to do ministry?