Communication and Student Ministry

As Youth Pastors, how we communicate to students is obviously very important. We want to communicate the Truth of God's Word in such a way that our students will understand how to take that next step in their relationship with God and be motivated to do so. It can be very easy for us to become focused on one audience of people we communicate to- the students in our youth groups.

The fact of the matter is that the students are just one audience of people to whom we communicate. God has commissioned the parent to be the most important and effective person in the spiritual lives of their children. God has put us under the authority of the Pastor that we work with. In many cases, we find ourselves ministering alongside other people on a church staff. There are people that work with us in our youth ministries- youth workers/counselors, musicians and interns. In many instances we work along side other youth pastors and youth ministries for effective annual events like camps and conferences.

We have heard it said that communication is the key to a marriage relationship. I would like to say that the way we communicate to all of these different audiences does have an impact on the final outcome of making disciples of the next generation. As ministers of the gospel, we are most effective when we clearly communicate to all of these audiences. Our words must match our behavior, but we still need to use words! To effectively reach and disciple the next generation, we must have all of these different audiences in our lives on board with the direction we are going. This is impossible without regular, clear, God-honoring communication.

Last month at the FBBF youth pastors meeting, Justin Brownlee, student pastor at Palm Springs Drive Baptist Church, explored some great principles, ideas and incites as to how to communicate effectively to all of these audiences. It was an encouragement and a help to all of us that were there. We are so blessed to have an opportunity each month to spend time with other student pastors who are in the trenches of youth ministry with us. If you missed it, you were missed. Don't miss out on the opportunity next month at Liberty Baptist Church in Tavares.