The Greatest Influence on High School Students
An article I just submitted for the Eden Prairie Sun-Current Newspaper.
Our student ministry leadership team is often asking: “Who or what are the greatest influences in the life of a student?” What prompts students to think, move, or change? Is it the social media through Twitter or Facebook they find themselves connected to; is it the people they hang out with, music they listen to, shows they watch or the advertisements they are bombarded by? Simply through the lens of observation and conversation, we feel strongly that we have answers to what two of the top influencers are in the life of a student.
Most of the time parents are still the most significant impact on the life of a young person. By God’s design, parents have the incredible responsibility and opportunity using God’s Word, the Church and the community around them, to shape, mold, and discipline their children. Students may not want to admit it but they are greatly influenced by their parents. It’s clear that the way a family system deals with conflict, handles stress and expresses emotion will have an effect on the children of that home.
Another top influence on the life of a student is… another student. Students will change their schedule, the way they dress and how they talk based on what other students are doing, wearing and saying. Some students will transition from one friend group to another taking on the personalality of each group as they move.
At the “Dare to Share” student conference last March we witnessed several students responding to the weekend by sharing their faith with their friends. Several students shared that they had experienced their friends enter in to a relationship with Jesus Christ as a result of their phone call during “Dare to Share”.
Shortly after “Dare to Share” there was a meeting for Fellowship of Christian Athletes where a handful of students led the meeting and shared personal stories of how a person can enter in to a relationship with Jesus Christ. They watched 12 friends take that step into a relationship with Jesus Christ. The results of these two events showed us that a student has an amazing ability to not only influence a student to dress, talk or act a certain way but they have the opportunity to motivate their friends to consider life’s most important decisions.
Churches can maximize the power of both of these powerful influences in the life of students. If the family system allows for it, an excellent ministry strategy is to come alongside parents as they strive to Biblically disciple their sons or daughters. It is also important to challenge students to passionately encourage their friends to be influenced through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ which is the greatest influence any of us, young or old, could be moved by.