If you’re taking a look at our Student Ministry schedule, and you’re wondering how we arrived on the days and structure, I don’t blame you! There are some natural questions when you see three different weekly events for our youth group students. Here are a few things you should know:
SMALL GROUPS ARE FIRST PRIORITY
When we put the schedule together, our most important piece was having leaders, locations, and a schedule that allows us to commit to consistent small groups. For us, that means Monday nights, with Middle School students meeting at the church and High School students meeting at their leaders’ houses. By having a dedicated small group night, it also means we won’t lose small group meetings due to large group meetings or other special events. This is hugely important to us. Gender-separated small groups are where a lot of the work gets done in drawing students closer to the Lord.
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE DIFFERENT
While we will still have plenty of special events that bring our Middle School and High School students together, there are a lot of reasons why it makes sense to give them separate spaces to operate. They’re in different developmental places. They have different levels of understanding. Different leaders with different gifting work better with different aged students. This schedule lets us reach these students where they’re at. Sometimes it makes sense to get everyone together, but we don’t want to do it just to be convenient.
SMALL AND LARGE GROUP DO DIFFERENT THINGS
Small groups on Monday and large group on Wednesday? Why not just roll it all together in one night? It’s because these two meetings really are designed to do different things.
Our small groups are gender-separated spaces where students build strong relationships with their peers and leaders. They join together in Bible study and prayer with people they’re developing deeper connection to. Students who are truly seeking to increase their understanding of the Gospel are well served.
Our large groups are a little different. Things get louder. Guys and girls spend some needed time interacting with each other. The lessons are aimed at big picture affirmations of who Jesus is, and who our students are made to be. While the pieces are similar (fellowship, prayer, teaching), the environment is different. Some students will thrive in small groups. Others will thrive in large group. Many will benefit in their walk with the Lord from both. That’s why they’re both part of our Student Ministry calendar.
WE’RE TRUSTING THE LORD WITH THE PLAN
This schedule was made with a lot of prayer and discussion. It can always change. We’re not interested in doing things because of ritual or because we’ve grown to expect it. We’re interested in doing the most faithful thing. For now, this is where we believe we are called to go, with our time, with our leaders, and with our students. We can’t wait to see what else God chooses to do!
Justin (Pastoral Intern and Student Ministry Leader)