I remember 1976 for many reasons. It was the bicentennial celebration for the United States, Happy Days ruled TV, the NBA and ABA officially merged, Jimmy Carter was elected President of the United States, and it was also the year I left elementary school and started middle school. What I remember most about middle school was how challenging it was to fit in and feel accepted. Almost 50 years later, many middle schoolers feel the same, especially students not plugged into a church like me.
When I turned 21, I gave my life to Christ; way too late for me to be a part of student ministries at a church. Maybe that’s why it was so important for my wife and I to ensure our children participated in our church youth group. I am certain youth ministry positively impacted their lives; it taught them to read their Bible, pray, serve God, and think of others.
We are at a point when middle and high schoolers need youth ministry more than ever to learn sound theology that translates into their lives, develop lifelong spiritual disciplines, and have a place to fellowship with their peers. Barna’s research from 2016 shows that 61% of senior pastors surveyed said youth ministry is “one of the top priorities.” Accordingly, the study shows that churches prioritizing youth ministry have larger youth group attendance.
As your church develops its budget strategy for student ministries, use the lists below to spark ideas of what to include, exclude, and adjust when necessary.
What to Include
- Training/Team Development: As with children’s ministry, student ministries rely heavily on volunteers. Middle and High School students will ask hard questions, challenge traditional theology, and rebel against authority. Training the volunteers and leaders to handle the various situations is paramount.
- Camps: Camps are a great way to have extended time with students and focus on God. However, camp is expensive. Include the amount the church plans to pay for travel, insurance, lodging, food, and materials when budgeting for camp.
- Events: Budget for the costs of non-camp events like movie nights, road rallies, paintball, etc.
- Curriculum: If your church purchases a student ministry curriculum, include the price in the budget.
- Supplies: Student ministries are known for their wacky and fun ways to open up students and drive home biblical truths. Estimate the budget for the supplies needed to cover these creative icebreakers as well as for Bibles, pens, paper, trash bags, socks, and even snacks.
- Volunteer Appreciation: It may seem impossible to fully appreciate those who give up their time to serve middle and high school students. Demonstrate value for these unsung heroes through meals, cards, coffee, awards, gift baskets, etc. Remember to express gratitude through non-budgeted ways like public acknowledgment, emails, and phone calls.
What to Exclude
- Compensation: Paid student ministry staff like pastors or associates are part of the church-wide compensation budget.
- IT Equipment: Student ministries should work with the IT Team to ensure that any new tech items, such as touchpads and printers for check-in or new computers, are included in the IT budget.
What to Adjust
Attendance and donations ebb and flow, often requiring adjustments to maintain fiscal viability. Here are a few suggestions for those circumstances.
Cuts to the Budget
- The cost of camps continues to rise; during lean times, churches should reduce the budget by cutting the camp budget and passing the costs to the students/families.
- Host events that utilize the existing resources eliminating the need for budget dollars.
Increases to the Budget
- The rising cost of camp often excludes families with meager financial resources. Increases to the budget allow the church to incur a more significant portion of the cost of camp, lowering the cost to students/families.
- Student ministries that utilize technology often find it wears out more quickly than other ministry areas. Evaluate and replace equipment that hinders or disrupts the worship experience.
- Increase the amount spent on appreciating and equipping volunteers.
