“They (the public school system) don’t want us in the schools!” was the angry response that came from one of the seminar participants. It was an awkward moment to say the least, but I had to address the challenge before a debate between public, private and home-school parents erupted.
“Yes they do–you just have to go about it the right way!” was my response. I followed up with a discussion on many of the items discussed below. I acknowledge that some school systems in our country are more difficult than others to navigate. Even so, I am convinced that our students attending public, private or a coalition of home schools need to see the adults of their faith communities in these arenas. You just have to go about it the right way.
What is your agenda?
Youth workers should begin by examining their motives for getting into their surrounding school system(s). I hope all of us can agree (another discussion for a different YW issue) that we cannot wait for teenagers to appear magically via their believing friends in our youth rooms, a let-them-come-to-us strategy. I know this happens with great success in some areas of the country. However, today’s postmodern climate is continuing to push faith communities to the margins. As a result, adults need to leave the margins and find ways to interact with students in the areas where they live, a let’s-go-to-them strategy. Schools offer a great place to come in contact with teenagers. That contact can be positive or damaging depending on the agenda you carry into the schools you are visiting.
Mars Hill, not Pentecost: Let me say clearly that in-your-face, tract-giving, Bible-thumping, don’t-go-to-hell evangelism is not a good agenda to carry into the public school arena. As a matter of fact, I do not think most private and home-school coalitions would appreciate such agendas on their campuses either. This type of behavior has caused problems in many of our school systems and has done nothing more than close the door of opportunity for other youth workers! Before getting angry and starting on the “they took prayer out of schools” rant, know that I am not advocating a surrender of our Christian convictions at the school door. On the contrary, we should engage our Christian convictions through service to others. (Sound familiar? Read
Salt and light, not Mount Carmel: Partners, Programs and Presence–these three words represent a positive “3P” agenda youth workers can carry into their surrounding school system(s) and use to keep their motives positive and accountable to a watching world.
Partner: View and speak of your role as a partner to educators.
Programs: Volunteer for programs that are already functioning in your local schools (PTA, FCA, Character Counts, substitute teaching, Rachel’s Challenge, mentoring, trip sponsor, reading, home room parent, etc.).
Presence: Become a recognizable, respected and welcome presence on school campuses. If this is your agenda, you will make the most of the programs you are asked to partner with and demonstrate through your servant presence your Christian convictions. Again, no need to hide your Christian convictions, they will be evident to all whom you come in contact (Sound familiar? Read
So what do I do?
Okay, you have examined and embraced a positive agenda for going into the schools. What now? The following are some practical suggestions for entering and impacting your local school system(s).
Develop relationships with administrators, teachers, volunteer coordinators, counselors and coaches. You probably have people attending your church who work in your local school system(s). If so, take them to lunch or coffee and talk with them about your desire to be involved at the school (be sure they understand your agenda). They can offer great direction and insight about school involvement. Such relationships have created a number of opportunities for our entire youth ministry team. Our team members regularly visit local schools for lunch, participate in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes programs, assist with track meets, work as crisis counselors, serve on school committees, assist with school programs, serve as resource speakers for local school programs and help coach various sports teams. All of these opportunities originated through the development of relationships with school employees.
Make the most of the volunteer opportunities offered by local school districts. There are a number of school programs that parallel Christian concern and passion for helping teenagers. For instance, mentoring opportunities (academic and character based) are prevalent in public, private and coalition of home schools. Such programs always seem to be looking for individuals who are willing to give of their time to help. A number of our local districts send out a weekly call for volunteers with a volunteer needs list attached. (It does not get any easier than this.) Volunteering usually begins with a background check and acquiring volunteer material available through your local district office. Read the material carefully so you know the expectations for volunteering set by each district. I have found that much confusion and misinformation exists among Christians regarding what one can or cannot do in the public school system. Much of this confusion can be alleviated by examining one’s own agenda and actually reading the district’s volunteer expectation material.
Grow yourself and ministry as a resource. One of the most common traits among youth workers who impact their local schools is that they have developed themselves resources schools want to use. Advanced training, certifications and degrees are readily available through institutes of higher learning. More education often creates more opportunity for entering the school arena. Think about it, excuse the generalization that youth workers know how to interact and speak to teenage audiences. With education credentials, how cool would it be to be “that” guest speaker giving “that” talk in your local high-school general assembly? Our ministry recently created a 501(c)3 called Teen Lifeline (www.lifelivedbetter.org). Our high school minister completed a master’s degree in counseling, discovered a need through working with local school counselors (relationship building), developed a program to meet that need, then resigned his church-based ministry to work in this community-based ministry. (It is truly cutting-edge, lets-take-it-to-them strategy.) Currently, the program is fully funded, operating in a number of local school districts and enjoying a number of open-door opportunities. Perhaps the root of the statement, “They don’t want us in schools!” is our fault. Develop yourself and ministry into relevant, useful resources!
The Power of a Hamburger
Recently a ninth grader gave his life to Christ with an interesting story of his conversion. While still a sixth-grade student at a local public middle school, he was handed a hamburger by our junior high minister who was at the school eating with one of our “regular” students. He found the minister to be friendly and genuinely interested in him coming to visit our youth ministry. Interestingly (Or was it divine plan?), the hamburger receiving sixth grader was a student in a class taught by one of our youth volunteers. Long story short, the student came to youth group, saw the youth minister, his teacher and was well-received by a group of students and adults who lived out their faith inside and outside school hours. Three years later, the kid gave his life to Christ and was baptized by the teacher’s husband (a school administrator), who also developed a relationship with the young man. Wow! Witness the power of a hamburger and simple invitation given during a school lunch. (Note: No gospel tracts were used or offered during this interaction).
