The Joys of Middle School Ministry

In my time working in Middle School Ministry, I have experienced some of the most joy and fulfillment of my entire life! I know that a statement like that can be confusing to some people. In college, I was studying Criminal Justice with dreams of being in Law Enforcement. I wanted to do something truly meaningful where I could help people in some of their darkest moments. If you told me back then that God would call me into ministry to work with preteens, I would have called you NUTS! I thought that working with middle schoolers was a waste of time, and they certainly would not be able or willing to understand something as important as the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Fast forward to 2021, I started serving in Student Ministry at Orchard Hill Church as a Small Group leader for middle schoolers, and I knew that God was calling me into something great. I stepped faithfully into full-time ministry working specifically with students in grades 6-8. There are so many reasons why this specific ministry is so important and life-giving, not only to the kids being ministered to but to yourself also as you participate in it. I wanted to share some reasons why sharing the Gospel with middle schoolers is important, and you may even want to consider serving with middle schoolers yourself.

Formative Years

Middle school can be such a pivotal time in life. Think of yourself during those formative years. You were probably fairly awkward, trying to figure out your place in the world, deciding how you would spend your time and who with, and on top of that, you possibly smelled pretty funky as well. This is the time of every kid's life when they are constantly asking themselves, “What does this person think about me?” “Does this person want to be around me, or am I annoying them?” “Am I accepted in the place that I am with the people I am around?”

When a trustworthy adult decides to spend time with a middle schooler with the goal of them feeling safe, seen, and loved then this can change their life. When that same adult prays for them and with them while sharing the Gospel with them, this can change their eternity! Spending time with middle schoolers is not the main goal of Middle School Ministry, but rather, it is for them to understand through the words and actions of adult leaders that are pouring into them that Jesus came to seek out the lost.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

Energy and Fun

One thing you can say generally about middle schoolers is that they tend to bring a healthy dose of playful goofiness to your life. If you ever feel like you need a good laugh, spend time serving at Middle School Merge on Sunday mornings! They bring so much excitement to every game. Recently, we were playing a game called Poop Deck, where students have to run to a side of the room based on which word is called out. One student ran so hard and fast that they ran into the wall and put a hole in it! The student did not get injured; they are okay. At that moment, we could have been mad or told the student that they had to fix it or something like that. But we chose grace by laughing it off and saying that it would be repaired.

A memory was created that day. I hope that memories like that are associated with having fun at church! I want every middle schooler to feel like the church is a place where they can come and be accepted in all their energy and excitement even if it is somewhat destructive. Every hole made is an opportunity to send that message: The church is for you, too!

Creating Adult Disciples

It is no secret that the kids who are in the church and world now will be the adults in the church and world later. If you are a parent, I would assume that you care about this deeply. You are most likely doing your part in helping to create a good future for your kids. I want to make it clear that ensuring the next generation knows about Jesus affects you even if you think it doesn’t. You may not be a parent currently, or maybe you are someone who has adult children who are already making their mark on the world. Whatever the case may be, the reality is that so much has changed in society already and that is thanks to a major change in worldviews. You may enjoy the direction the cultural and political climate is going in currently, and you may not. One thing I know for certain is that you can passively watch everything change around you, or you can have a direct hand and voice in forming the next generation and helping them think about the world around them.

You could do that by engaging in political conversations or by telling middle schoolers why it may be a bad idea to date that boy or girl at such a young age or even by telling them your own personal views on gender ideology and how you think they should think about all of these things. None of these have the power to change a student’s mind or heart as much as the Word of God. Engaging in conversations with middle schoolers about a God that condemns their sin but also provides Himself as the solution to their problem of sin is something that really matters. This is the message that students need to hear more than anything. The rest will surely follow.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. – Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NIV)

Conclusion

If you have ever considered serving in Middle School Ministry but don’t know where to start, I would encourage you to apply to be a volunteer. If you can’t commit to that right now, then that’s okay. You can even ask God to give you opportunities to share the Gospel with middle schoolers in your community. I am sure if you seek out those opportunities and step into them faithfully you will not regret it.