As this website grows and we gain more and more followers, I get asked a particular question a lot. This question comes from both my friends who 
are church attendees and those who are not. The question I get asked is why I picked student ministry as the area I wanted to volunteer and serve. My answer is simple, I didn’t pick student ministry, God picked it for me!
I volunteered in a couple other areas at Saddleback church before I started volunteering with students. I got satisfaction from the other areas that I volunteered, but when I started with our high school team as a volunteer and a small group leader my spiritual life just exploded and I mean that in a good way. I have seen firsthand the effect that a positive role model and mentor can have on teens. I have seen lives changed right before my eyes. It hasn’t been all sunshine and smiles, there have been some sad times along the way as well, but that’s when I realize that Satan does not like what I’m doing and he will do anything to try to de-rail my ministry. I just turn to prayer and to the people close in my life and ask for their support and prayer. God has not failed me yet.
I know that student ministry is not for everyone, just like there are a lot of ministries that are not for me. You need to find how God has shaped you, what he has designed you for and run with it. It’s just like a job that you either love or hate. If you love your job you excel, if you hate it you’re probably just doing the least amount you have to in order to get by. Here are some tips on selecting a ministry; I’m going to do this same exercise with my high school small group so I can get them involved in regularly serving in a ministry:
1. Pray. Ask God to help you select the right ministry for you.
2. If you don’t know what ministry area you are suited for, I recommend this book, S.H.A.P.E. by Erik Rees.
2. Ask your friends and those you trust what they think you might be good at. The reason I got involved in student ministry is because two people thought I would be good at it and they kept after me until I finally caved in and tried it. I will always be grateful to them.
3. Find someone to do ministry with you. Two are stronger than one; I can’t imagine doing this ministry without Steven. We just “click” in so many areas, I get an idea about something I want to do, and he will take my idea and build on it. By the time he is done, my good idea has gone to a great idea. Pick someone who you trust, someone who will not just tell you what you WANT to hear but what you NEED to hear.
4. If you try a ministry and don’t like it, or its more like a job than a labor of love, get out! Find something else. You won’t enjoy what you’re doing and God will not get glory from you doing a shoddy job at ministry. Get out, but don’t give up! Try something else. One of the ways we show our love of God is to serve others.
I’d love to hear why you picked student ministry! You can comment here.
