A complete discipleship system for leading intentional preteen and youth ministry
Preteens are the most misunderstood, overlooked, and often avoided age group in kids’ ministry. They are weird and awkward BUT have incredible potential! Instead of being stuck between children and student ministry, these kids can thrive and take significant steps of faith.
With the right strategy and team, you can build an intentional ministry for your preteen students. They need more than just childcare; they want deeper Biblical study. They long for a place to belong, where they can learn to know Jesus personally, develop a deeper understanding of God’s Word and prepare to enter student ministry.
Here are a few tips and ideas for those praying about starting an intentional ministry for preteens:
We share the ministry’s vision and expectations with our families every year. We set the bar high for the level of commitment and expectations within our ministry. I’m convinced our students show up BECAUSE the bar is set higher; they are learning that spiritual growth takes an investment.
A child’s most significant influence is their parents. We see our role as our parents’ partner; we disciple their kids alongside them, not in place of them. We want our parents to be involved. We ask them to volunteer one time throughout the year and expect them to participate in “home challenges” we sometimes give to the kids—like an easy word study, Scripture search, or journal writing activity. We keep weekly communication open through text and social media. We post pictures regularly to show what kids are learning and doing together. We invite families to participate (not volunteer) at several of our ministry events.
Include a lot of movement and activity. We open every night with an optional 30-minute “game time” before Bible study begins. This offers inside and outside play and is an excellent space for students to grow friendships. We balance Bible study with guy/girl activities, Bad Joke Game, Peeps Olympics, Cereal and PJ’s theme night, and team-building projects.
We do our kids a disservice if we do not offer substantial, age-appropriate study of God’s Word. Our kids have come to understand that there is a time for silliness and then a time to tune their hearts to listening and learning. It’s essential to have an intentional teaching plan and something you can build your calendar around. Include different learning methods like object lessons, video clips, and games.
Our preteen students have opportunities to serve together through different projects within and outside our church. Some are big (week-long mission projects), and some are smaller (cleaning children’s ministry toys and other areas in the church). We also want our students to have chances to serve each other. For us, this best happens at our graduation ceremony. As we recognize and honor our sixth graders and their families moving up to the student ministry, our fifth graders take the lead in serving in all the different roles required to run that event.
Preteen ministry is challenging, but they will listen and participate if they know they belong and their leaders believe in them. Be prepared, bold, and joyful in your teaching, and center everything on the Gospel. Lead with Christ-like patience and kindness. Be clear on your purpose and never give up pointing these students to the truth that knowing Jesus changes everything. Preteens WILL flourish in an environment that nurtures AND stretches them.
Deep Discipleship Preteens is a complete curriculum and system with everything you need for ministry to 4th–6th grade students.
