Involving Your Pastor And Other Leaders In Your DNow

Are there some tips for involving your church’s leadership in your DNow or Retreat Weekend? You bet there is.

It starts with breaking down walls. There are many invisible (and some not so invisible) walls that separate our youth ministries from our leadership and congregation. Let me offer three ways to break these walls down.

Ask your Pastor or other church leaders to share at your retreat
Ask your pastor to share for 5-10 minutes. Give him a prescribed thought to speak on, or talk with him about the theme and allow him to freelance a bit. Why? Two reasons, one, this is a great opportunity to connect students in your group with your leadership. And two, the more your pastor gets to know these students, the less like strangers students become to your pastor and the Church.

Ask your deacons or board members if they would open their homes to host a small group for the weekend
Once again, this is about breaking down barriers. Your church leaders may have resources, time, or talent that is untapped. Consider that many of your church leaders don’t get involved simply because they aren’t asked. Maybe these church leaders can cook and would love to help with a meal. Don’t leave a stone unturned. Give them permission to say no. Ask your students to help make a thank you video If you can’t bring your church leaders to the mountain, bring the mountain to them. As part of your retreat, wander around and do some random interviews with students, and ask them what they have learned or are learning. At the end of the video, maybe have the entire group shout a big thank you to your church. Post the video and send a link to all your church leadership.

Get the rest of your church involved and watch the walls tumble down.