Teens want their faith to matter. So it’s very important to create opportunities for them to serve, both inside and outside the church. It seems that we’re always impressed on Youth Sunday when they lead the worship service for a day. Some churches even have a “Youth Week” where teens take on different roles of the church (such as Sunday School teachers). What if we made it more than just a week? What if we provided opportunities each week in worship, created opportunities for service in the local community, and allowed their voice to be heard (even in business meetings!)? The more involved they are now, the more likely they are to remain involved in church after they leave the youth group.
These thoughts above are from Rev. Richard Wood, our partner in ministry for youth, children and social media ministry. He is an associate pastor in Sanford, North Carolina .