One of the things I miss most about ministry inside the walls of the church (before the pandemic) is our parents. I miss conversations with parents before and after church, having the opportunity to get to know them in different ways. Sharing laughs, talking about sports, or even hearing about the things they do in their careers. Years ago, I learned that having a successful youth ministry is dependent on the parents being included as a part of the team. I mean, it makes sense right! Parents drop off kids, pick them up, remind them about upcoming events, and they are often your biggest advocates for their students' participation.
Parents are a vital part of our ministry as they are our most important partners. Over the past few years, I have been intentional about getting feedback from our parents. It is necessary to hear their perspective about what's working and what's not, so we can readjust when appropriate. Sometimes the feedback isn't what you want to hear, but it's necessary for your growth. One result of intentionally partnering with parents is that many of them begin offering to serve during special events or ministry activities. Our youth ministry has had parents volunteer to teach our youth group on Mondays, organize field trips and youth retreats, and serve as facilitators for breakout sessions for our in-person youth church.
Will you reach every family? Probably not. Will you have a personal relationship with every parent? Likely not. But it doesn't hurt to make them feel included. I'm not an expert in this area, and I still have things I could improve. But no matter how hard it gets, making the space for parents to be part of your ministry will only help in the long run. Thank you, parents, for being valued stakeholders in the continued growth of all we do!