We have all been in such a state of hurry the last couple of weeks figuring out how to run a youth ministry where I cannot meet in person? How do I start a YouTube channel? Is Zoom or Google Hangouts better for small groups? Do my students actually care if our ministry exists. The fact is they absolutely do care and our ABNWT Next Gen team of pastors has done a great job of adapting and keeping the mission of prevailing church on point in crazy times. The one danger that does exist in this chaos is to allow for important things to slip through the cracks. An important thing for all youth pastors to remember at all times is that you are not the primary spiritual caregiver in your student’s lives. That job belongs to their parents. Here are 3 ways you can serve parents during this time of Covid-19 quarantine.
Virtual Parent Meeting
This one is money in the bank! Hopefully a parent meeting is a semi-regularly thing for you when we are not trapped in our homes. If not, this is something to take serious note of for the future as well as now. For those of us who have done these in the past they can sometimes feel like checking a box off a list of youth pastor tasks. It is always a little nerve racking because you never know what questions parents are going to ask, or what rumours have been circulating about your group that may be damaging your reputation as a pastor without you even knowing. I have found in my time as a youth pastor that these meetings are 99% positive and even when there are difficult conversations they lead to positive outcomes. You need to be able to bring parents along side you as a pastor and the vision you have for the ministry they send their kids to. Parents are as much a valuable part of your ministry team as your volunteers, so it is important to get them on vision. That being said during this chaotic time a parent meeting is a must. Simply schedule a Zoom call and invite parents to attend. Send out an agenda and timeline of what you will discuss and make sure you have time to share what you are doing, the vision and goals of your ministry during Covid-19, and make sure there is time for them to ask questions. This is a step that will help you now, and also will create allies for your ministry down the road as well.
Phone Calls
I have said this before and I will say it again. A direct phone call is my least favorite thing. That being said in the last month I have gotten better at it, I had no choice. The value of phoning a parent just to check in and see how they are doing may be the best thing you can do as a youth pastor right now. Ask how you can pray for them, what they are seeing in their children at this time, and how you can best pastor through their challenges.
Pray for Parents
This one probably sounds elementary, but it could not be more important. When you call parents make sure you ask what you can pray for them for and make sure you do it, write it down and make sure you don’t forget. Take a few minutes everyday and pray for parents. The fact is that no matter how cool your YouTube channel is or how fun your Zoom small groups are, the spiritual and emotional state of your students coming out of isolation is very much in the hands of parents. They are scared, they are dealing with financial and personal stress. They need your prayer more than ever. Parents are our allies, and we need to act accordingly.
If you have any great ideas you are using that you would like to share please contact me at abnwt.com
Jeff Kiers serves as the Next Gen Coach for the District Resource Centre. Jeff is passionate about finding creative ways to communicate the gospel to traditionally unchurched demographics.