How Parents Can Partner with Student Ministries

by Zach Cochran | May 20, 2019 | Articles

If you have a child in junior high or high school, your house is likely busy. Often, it takes a balancing act to get everything done—rides to and from activities, family obligations, extracurricular commitments. It’s a lot! So, when it comes to your child’s involvement in Student Ministries, how can you be involved?

Whether you know it or not: you can play a big role in the effectiveness of Student Ministries. As a parent, your partnership matters. Here are three simple steps you can take to partner with Student Ministries in the discipleship of your student:

1. Learn about your student’s leaders

There is a partnership involved with any sort of student ministry. For example, our Student Ministries Team at College Park Church is devoted to discipling students. We’re partnering with parents on a regular basis, and that partnership requires relationship. I encourage you to take the time to learn about the leaders who are pouring into your student’s life through church ministry. Consider inviting them out for lunch or coffee and build a relationship with them. Your efforts will foster better discipleship of your student as well as greatly bless your student’s leader.

2. Connect with other parents 

The parents and guardians of the teens in your student’s Small Group are in a similar life season. Connecting with them can minister to your family and theirs. You may even build a connection that provides lasting friendship for yourself as well as your student. Consider inviting a group to get coffee while your students are at a ministry event together. It’s a great opportunity to share encouragement, pray, and get to know other families at your church.

3. Invite your student’s Small Group over  

In order to grow in faith together, students need to have authentic, godly relationships. You can help with that! Find ways for your student to spend time with their student Small Group outside of church. One idea is to invite the group over for a night of food and fun. By providing a safe place to build relationships outside of church, you’re promoting deep discipleship opportunities.