I’ll never forget the first time I flew on an airplane. It was exhilarating to break through the clouds and see the serenity of the sky and the radiance of the sun. The sheer magnitude of the earth and the beauty of creation were awe-inspiring. Yet it would have been silly (and impossible) for me to stay permanently on the plane. For one, it’s not allowed; it was not designed to be a permanent residence. It’s meant to take you from one place to another, and then you get off. In many ways, spiritual highs function the same way.
The spiritual high that students experience at church events is a good thing. God often ordains moments and people to show us more of him. Consider Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration, beholding the glory of Christ, only to descend the mountain soon after.
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? We might be tempted to try to repeat the experience, maybe even by reshaping youth gatherings to recreate it. I would caution against this. While we may need to chug a big glass of water when we are really thirsty, it is steady, daily hydration that sustains us. To that end, here are a few ways youth pastors can faithfully disciple after a spiritual high.
1. Immediately after, point them heavenward.
First, as we consider the fleeting nature of a spiritual high, we have an opportunity to remind students that their hearts are longing for the permanence of heaven. All good things on earth are fleeting. I remind my students that when their hearts long for what they had before—retreat highs, friendships, opportunities—that longing is ultimately a longing for heaven.
Youth minister, help them name what their hearts are truly longing for. This could be done in prayer, at your next youth group gathering, or in a note or email to your students. Consider how Jonathan Edwards describes it: “Everything in the heavenly world shall contribute to the joy of the saints, and every joy of heaven shall be eternal. No night shall settle down with its darkness upon the brightness of their everlasting day.” May we rejoice in the gifts the Lord gives us at camps and retreats, but may we ultimately look to the hope of heaven.
2. Talk about baptism and church membership.
One possible danger of “spiritual highs” for youth is the disconnect between that moment and the local church. It is good for us to remember that God has established a regular means of grace. Through our union with Christ, we are united not only to him but also to his body. So if your student has made a profession of faith, begin intentionally moving toward baptism and church membership. As we see in Acts 2, professing faith is followed by baptism and incorporation into the body of believers. Therefore, all Christians—especially youth—should understand that their personal relationship with God is meant to be shared publicly and corporately with God’s people.
This is particularly true for seniors in your youth ministry, whose time in youth group is coming to a close as they prepare for the next stage of life. They will be greatly encouraged to know that their community and faith are not tied to a single place or season. If they leave the youth group, move away from home, or relocate for college, they remain united to Christ and his body. For seniors who stay in your congregation, continue investing in them, helping them grow and remain engaged. And for those who relocate, come alongside them in finding a local church in their new community, keeping them connected to God’s people even as seasons change.
3. Establish formal discipleship relationships.
We disciple out of obedience to God, who has commanded us to make disciples of all nations. In youth ministry, when a student has experienced a significant spiritual moment or change, it is important to establish a formal discipleship relationship. We see the benefit of such relationships in the way Paul discipled Timothy and Titus. Students may not ask for, or even immediately see, the value of someone intentionally pouring into them. Yet because it is spiritually important and God has placed us in a time and place to serve, it is our responsibility to initiate these relationships.
Practically, in our youth ministry, I typically approach adult leaders who might be a good fit for a student, connect them with the student’s parent, and have them begin meeting in some capacity. This could look like reading a book together, doing acts of service, or simply reading Scripture and discussing it. I would also encourage youth pastors to make space in the budget, if possible, to facilitate meals, coffee, and events that leaders can use for discipleship.
4. Regularly discuss the works of God.
In Joshua 4, the people of Israel established twelve stones of remembrance. These stones marked what God had done, with Joshua saying, “These stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” Remind your students of the work God accomplished during those retreats and weekends. Speak of how it impacted you personally. Consider having students share their testimonies weeks or months later. It is important to pause and praise God for what he has done, so that our forgetful and fickle hearts might remember his goodness. For students in particular, this will help them remember that God is continually at work, and that they can expect to see his hand in their lives long after camp is over.
5. Pray for them and with them.
Whether in parenting or ministry, we don’t need to keep our prayers private. Pray for them and with them that camps and retreats would not be merely spiritual highs. Also pray that they would see the beauty of a steady and faithful life in Christ, and encourage them to pray to the same end. Far from being a tidy bow on these experiences, prayer is a God-ordained means by which things happen. God works to accomplish his promises—namely, that he will call his people to himself. Let us pray confidently to that end.
6. Facilitate gospel-centered youth ministry.
If you are intentional about your youth group hearing from gospel-rich speakers and attending gospel-rich events, you will enable discipleship to flourish even more when students are at home. What do I mean by that? If students attend a youth conference where the teaching is not gospel-centered, it will be difficult to translate that to their regular spiritual diet. As your students settle back into a routine, you can teach, counsel, and worship with them through gospel-centered eyes. By planning your events and conferences this way, they will find that the same truths that stirred their hearts at camp can continue to stir their hearts at home.
As youth ministers, we desire to help shepherd students’ hearts to love the Lord and trust in Jesus. Spiritual highs are not our enemy, but a means by which we can disciple our students. Whether this works out well in your ministry or not, take encouragement that, despite our successes and failures, not one sheep will be lost from the hand of Christ. Walk in the grace of our Lord Jesus as you steward this wonderful labor of youth ministry.
Pick up a copy of Gospel Centered Youth Ministry for more theologically rooted yet eminently practical help to effectively shepherd the young people under your care.
