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Junior High Ministry 101: The Importance Of ‘The Feel’
A couple of years ago Chap Clark made the following comment at a gathering of middle school youth workers:
“In ministry to young teens, the feel of the ministry is more important than the content.”
That comment launched us into a discussion around the idea that creating a ministry that feels safe, accepting, comforting, etc. is actually more important than the content you teach because of the crazy place young teens are at developmentally.
I think I agree with Chap. That isn’t to say biblical instruction, learning doctrine etc. don’t play a part in junior high ministry; they do. It is to say, however, that how a ministry feels to a young teen is equally important (so maybe I don’t agree that it’s ‘more important’, but that it is equally important). Creating positive memories, building relationships, creating a safe place to ask questions and share doubts, providing lots of experiential learning, surrounding students with caring adults etc. are crucial pieces of an effective junior high ministry.
If we can create an atmosphere in our ministry that is comfortable to junior highers during the 2-3 toughest years of their lives, we’ll probably keep them around for years to come which will provide plenty of time for deeper content.
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The phrase I use with my leaders constantly as we spend hours designing the program and the atmosphere…Program provides opportunity. If we don’t have something they want to be at, they won’t engage any deeper. Really, I think what we can all land on is to say that the content is actually embedded into the ‘feel’ of the ministry.
To know that you are loved, cared for, that life can be fun, and that church is a safe place is all stuff that I would be teaching in my ‘content’ anyways.
I don’t think feel is more important than content. But I do believe both are extremely important.
The right enviroment opens the door for the content. A great and Biblical approach to ministry. Just my two cents worth. Certainly worthwhile to discuss/think about.