What I Learned in Student Ministry

(Contributed by Randy Johnson)


7 things I learned to do in a local Church Student Ministry

• Keep the preeminence of Christ as the focus of your ministry 
• Help youth discover their gifts - equip them to do the ministry 
• Train youth to be leaders – give them ownership of the ministry 
• Train & equip adults to become ministers of youth – give them ownership of the ministry 
• Affirm youth and adult leaders for who they are and what they accomplish 
• Cultivate relationships with parents and encourage them to be the best parents they can be 
• Help student to make heart connections with Christ himself, their parents, and other significant adults 

7 things I learned not to do in a local Church Student Ministry 

• Avoid making sudden changes in programming without input from those who will be impacted by the change 
• Avoid substituting email, phone calls, texts, or written notes when a difficult situation could better be dealt with through person to person contact 
• Avoid making big decisions when you are angry or depressed 
• Avoid making your programs more important than people 
• Avoid placing results over relationships 
• Avoid letting criticism and controversy go with out a reasonable response 
• Avoid becoming stale in your relationship with God 

The Non-Negotiables in Student Ministry

• Personal Care for Your Family 
• Personal Integrity 
• Personal Spiritual Growth 

Randy Johnson has 36 years of youth ministry experience in the local church. For the past 26 years he has served as the Student Minister at the First Baptist Church of Richardson, Texas. He and his wife, Carol, have two adult daughters.