Summer marks a time of transition for Student Ministries. Specifically, we move up our incoming 9th graders at the beginning of the summer from Junior High to Senior High. At the same time, we move our graduating seniors into the college-age ministry.
Both transitions (or should I say hand-offs) are crucial. We have found that the hand-offs from ministry to ministry is the time when most students can fall through the cracks. If students don't quickly feel connected to the next life-stage ministry, especially the ones their parents aren't forcing them to attend, then they might withdraw and never reengage in Church community.
Incoming Freshman
We strive to leverage the summer with the incoming 9th graders to have a head-start on being a high schooler. We hope to forge relationships by which these students can feel a sense of belonging to the high school ministry. We hope that when they step foot on their high school campuses for the first time that they know there are quite a few friends who care about them.
Graduating Seniors
Our ministry just graduated the most influential and dynamic group of seniors that I have ever experienced in youth ministry. While I hate to see them go, I would hate for this to be the end of the road for them. I have watched numerous students in the past, graduate, move away to college and then feel like there is no way to connect with their home Church. This move can sometimes be harder for the remaining high school students who have made strong friendships with these Seniors.
I also need to create a vacancy of leadership whereby the next group of upperclassman can rise up to. As a result I am drawing the finish line hard and fast for these seniors. I want them to connect, engage and thrive in the college ministry so that they can continue to transition through the next season of their life.
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