While others prepare for their summer vacations, youth ministry often kicks into high gear. One of the hallmarks of summer youth ministry in many churches is getting away with students. Whether you’re accompanying teenagers to camp for fun and spiritual growth or taking them to serve and learn from the local church in another part of the world, these weeks away can be equally fruitful and exhausting.
In an upcoming Rooted Webinar titled Preparing for Summer Camp and Youth Service Trips, we’ll address this topic. Join us on Wednesday, June 3 at 1:00 CT as we cover the ins and outs of youth ministry trips. Members of the Rooted team will offer practical tips about safety and boundaries, best practices for preserving your energy, and encouragement for you as a spiritual leader. Time will be allotted for Q&A. Finally, it will be our privilege to pray for you ahead of your trips this summer!
In the meantime, we hope this roundup of Rooted resources equips and encourages you as you prepare for your summer travel with students.
Articles
Preparing for (and Surviving!) the Summer in Youth Ministry by Ryan Wood
As exhausting and discouraging as the summer can be, it can also be an opportunity to receive Jesus’ invitation to rest.
Summer’s Breaking Potential for Youth Pastors by Ben Beswick
For many outside of ministry, summer represents a warm reprieve from the drudge of the school year. For those in youth ministry though, it signifies something far different. These next two months can leave us feeling exhausted and burned-out if we are not careful. As youth pastors, parents, and church attenders, it is important to be prepared.
Consider Staying Close to Home for Your Youth Group’s Mission Trip by Isaiah Marshall
We must be careful in thinking missions is about an experience we get to have. Emphasizing what students “get out of” short-term mission trips can lead teenagers to believe that the missional call is about us and what we experience….However, serving is not about us.
Five Things To Expect From Camp by Chad Poe
Camp, whether you do it yourself or trust one of the organizations, is a special time in the life of a student ministry….So what should you expect?
Leading Spiritually on Youth Mission Trips by Caleb Creel
The main goal for any trip is to serve and support your ministry partners to form a lasting gospel witness for the benefit of the host community. Still, as the spiritual leader of your team, you must also shepherd teenagers through the experience, speaking the Word of God through the power of the Spirit in ways that will equip them for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12; Titus 3:8). With careful preparation and a mindset of awareness, a trip becomes an important opportunity for spiritual growth.
Two Views on Devices at Youth Retreats: A Case for Phone-Free Spaces by Jason Engle
We have not made sweeping policy decisions like this for every event, and I am certainly not offering a dogmatic position on this issue. I would simply like to share some of our reasons for going device-free, which I hope will help fellow youth ministers as you consider your next retreat or trip with students.
Two Views on Devices at Youth Retreats: A Case for Allowing Phones by Isaiah Marshall
We must also ask: What if that very device we’re quick to ban becomes the one thing that helps a student feel safe? What if the same phone that tempts one student toward comparison is also the phone that connects another to their counselor or caretaker or friend during a moment of emotional need?
How I Handle Discipline on a Youth Retreat or Trip by Ryan Oakes
Stepping into moments of discipline with our students is never easy. It’s certainly not the fun part of the job or the reason we went into youth ministry, but it is an important way we show them Jesus.
Discipling Students After Spiritual Highs by Joshua Madl
For the church, and particularly for youth pastors, learning to disciple students after spiritual highs is a necessary task. How do we best steward the spiritual good accomplished over those weekends and sweat-soaked summer weeks?
Podcasts
On Rooming Assignments for Retreats and Mission Trips (Rooted Youth Ministry Unscripted)
In this episode of YMU, Rebecca, Isaiah, Josh, and Danny discuss the very practical topic of rooming assignments for retreats and mission trips, as the summer youth ministry retreat and mission trip season approaches.
Relational Discipleship During the Summer Months (Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast)
Clark Fobes, Mike McGarry, and Kevin Yi discuss how youth ministry is different during the summer months, as well as strategies for effectively shepherding students during hectic rhythms, lethargic rhythms, and rhythms in-between.
The Pros and Cons of Summertime: A Conversation with Andy Cornett, Liz Edrington, Dave Wright, and Sarah Seibels (Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast)
Find out how each of these leaders utilizes this “off-season” (which is anything but “off” in youth ministry), hires help (interns), and how they find rest in their respective ministries during this unique time of the year.
