Why Student Ministry Matters So Much
Ah, student ministry—the sacred calling of herding hyperactive, sleep-deprived, over-stressed teenagers toward Jesus while hoping they remember at least one thing from our weekly meeting (besides who brought the best snacks).
You know you’re in youth ministry when you’ve spent more time untangling the cords for the church’s ancient sound system than you have untangling theological debates. Or when your phone tells you your most frequent text is: “Are you coming tonight?” (to which they reply two days later: “Oops, just saw this.”)
But despite the chaos, questionable snack choices, and occasional kickball-related injuries, student ministry is one of the most crucial investments a church can make. Here’s why:
1. Why Youth Programs Are Vital for Today’s Teens
We always talk about how young people are “the future of the church.” That’s true, but they’re also the present. They are forming their faith now, making decisions about what they believe, and determining if the Church is a place they actually want to be—or just a Sunday morning snooze-fest.
If we don’t engage them, they’ll find something else to engage with (and spoiler: TikTok & Instagram will win every time if we don’t make faith real for them). Faith-based youth activities like team-building exercises, group games, and small group discussions are just some of the things we do within our student ministry at Olathe Wesleyan.
2. The Questions You’re Avoiding
Teenagers have no filter. They will ask if Adam had a belly button. They will ask why bad things happen to good people. They will ask if God could microwave a burrito so hot that even He couldn’t eat it. And honestly? Sometimes they’ll have better questions than some of the most well-studied and experienced Christ followers. That’s just how it goes with students.
Student ministry isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about creating a space where it’s okay to wrestle with faith. And maybe, just maybe, that wrestling brings them closer to God. We’re currently developing a Student Leadership Team within our youth group, and it’s been an amazing learning experience for us. The students gave the typical “It’s fun!” and “I like hanging out!” answers, but they also offered some great insight. “StudentLife is a safe place where I can wrestle with questions and doubts away from my family and away from school.” Another student said, “StudentLife is filled with authentic people who admit they’re struggling and there’s no judgment or condemnation for when we mess up.”
I don’t know about you, but when I think of the Church that Jesus established, I think of people that were okay with wrestling through their questions and wanted to discover more about who God made them to be. Our student sponsors and our students want that too.
3. Relationships Are Everything
At OWC, we’re privileged with the experiences we’ve gotten to do. We’ve gone on retreats as a smaller group to Colorado, Arkansas, and Missouri. We’ve served at other local nonprofits and a couple nursing homes in the Kansas City area. We’ve been to conferences and camps along with hundreds of other students and pastors in Ohio and most recently to Oklahoma.
There have been emotional breakdowns, frustrating moments, and some of the most amazing spiritual breakthroughs at each of these types of events. Through all of these, we have shared experiences that make our relationships stronger and these moments have become a hallmark of our students’ and our student sponsors’ faith. Here’s the great news: there’s always room for more students to come!
4. We’ve Seen Jesus Move in the Most Unexpected Places
It might be in the way a usually quiet student prays for a friend. Or in the deep theological debate that starts over a pizza slice. Or in the time a middle schooler sincerely asks if Jesus could turn Gatorade into wine for communion.
Youth ministry reminds us that faith isn’t just for the polished, the put-together, or the well-rehearsed. It’s for the messy, the loud, the searching, and the snack-motivated. In other words, it’s for all of us.
The Bottom Line
Student ministry is wild. It’s unpredictable. It’s exhausting. But it’s also one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. Because somewhere in between the goofy games, the awkward silences, and the unanswered group texts, something incredible happens: young people meet Jesus in a way that sticks with them.
And that? That makes all the chaos worth it.
So now what? You’ve got a teen or an up-and-coming teenager. Join one of the most impactful churches with a student ministry in Olathe. Help your teen grow in faith as they share a safe space where they can have fun, build relationships, and be their authentic selves!
(But seriously. Answer your texts, kids!)