A friend of mine, who engages with thousands of students every year, recently posed a question that sparked my search for effective resources. He asked, "Where can I send a person who needs help, wants to grow, is struggling now, and seeks answers about life and faith? What resources are immediately available?"
Reaching the Unreachable: A "Both-And" Approach for Youth Ministry
This led me to reflect on another crucial question: "What about the student who will never go to a church, event, camp, or retreat?" To truly reach every student-one of our strategic objectives and a crucial part of NNYM's vision-we need a "both-and'' approach.
Yes, we need trained, relational, gospel-sharing students, but we also need resources for those who might be hesitant to engage in person. That's where Every Student comes in. In a world where traditional methods often fall short of reaching every young person, this online platform ensures that every young person has the opportunity to explore faith in a way that resonates with them.
Why Use an Online Platform?
People have deep, often complex questions about God. Every Student found a way to provide personalized answers in a safe online space, leading thousands to discover faith every day. Here's why this matters:
- Accessible Answers: Students sometimes feel manipulated, unloved, and preached at with irrelevant messages. This online platform offers a way to genuinely say, "I care about your journey," in a loving, relevant, and non-manipulative manner.
- Reaching the Unreachable: Many young people will never attend a church event, camp, or retreat. Some struggle with making new friends outside their circle. The website provides a welcoming space for these individuals to explore faith.
- Proven Impact: Nearly a million people come to faith through this platform every year. It's a trustworthy follow-up plan that meets people where they are-online.
Encouraging Students in Their Faith Journey
Your student group can adopt this site as a strategy to allow young people to anonymously examine the claims of Jesus. It's not a tract but an invitation to explore, which can lead to deeper, meaningful conversations.
The website provides well-researched answers to questions that many people have about God and the value of a relationship with God. Some questions addressed on EveryStudent.com:
- How can you prove that God exists?
- What is God like?
- Why is life so hard?
- Does God answer prayer?
- What is it like to know God?
By incorporating EveryStudent.com into your youth ministry, you enable young people to navigate their spiritual journey with confidence, compassion, and curiosity. Encourage exploration, foster discussion, and witness transformative growth within your youth community.
www.everystudent.com
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Rick Eubanks is co-founder of See You At the Pole and Texas State Coordinator for NNYM. He is passionate about empowering students and the leaders committed to influencing students. His life verse is 2 Timothy 2:2