Advice for Youth Leaders: What Works in Connecting with Young People
Since 2022, our team has executed a multiyear research effort titled “What’s Working,” supported in part by Lilly Endowment Inc., to discover how faith-based organizations are working to engage Gen Z. Over the course of 2024, our team interviewed leaders from organizations across the country that are revamping traditional methods and innovating new ways to support the flourishing of young people. Throughout our research, the themes of fun, integrity, inclusivity, purpose, and adaptability continued to rise to the surface as keys to engaging Gen Z in faith-based spaces. Leaders also illustrated what those big ideas look like in practice. Read below to learn leaders’ tips and advice for those who are just starting in youth-serving roles or those who want to improve the quality of their relationships with young people.
Get comfortable being yourself.
In her work with students at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale, Chandler Gelb says they can tell when a leader is adapting their personality just for them—and that’s when things can get weird. She advises showing up as yourself and making an effort to get to know the young people in your ministry.
“If you authentically love the things you love, that is contagious and students will see that and want to ask you questions and get to know you,” Chandler says. “Just in the same way that when a student is really excited about knowing something, you asking questions is a way for that student to feel seen and heard and for you to get to know them in a much deeper way.”
In his experience as pastor at Second Reformed Church in Zeeland, Michigan, Eric Barnes says adults don’t need to worry about “being cool enough.” Making mistakes and being able to laugh it off is an asset.
“Our Sunday school is taught by a 68-year-old retired minister and a 50-something gynecologist, and the kids love them. They’re just who they are,” Eric says. “They’re not worried about trying to look cool or appear cool. . . . It takes a special breed of person to be willing to work with middle schoolers in the midst of all of who they are and to not be intimidated and silly. If someone is concerned about being cool, I would say the first step is admitting your own inadequacy, that you’re never going to be as cool as their friends, but you can be who you are. You can be authentic and honest.”
Evaluate how the organization centers young people.
As a person who’s ministered to youth in a variety of spaces, Trevor Beauford believes that successful efforts begin with contextual analysis and with understanding how young people will react to and benefit from the space that is being created.
“I think you have to understand that your younger adults are the content area experts, Trevor says. “Yes, I know I’m all about the Bible. Yes, I know more about organizational management. There are things I know better than my team. Sure, I’m older, but I don’t know what younger adults are facing in their lives. It’s been a long time since I was 26. So, therefore, I think people have to understand who you’re designing ministry for. If they’re not at the table, then you’re designing in a vacuum. [And if those voices are at the table and you’re ignoring them], then what are you doing? You’re doing the ministry as a middle-aged person who wants a young-adult ministry . . . and so you say it’s for the youth, but it’s not. It’s really for you. I think that’s important [to recognize].”
As a youth pastor who runs an inclusive youth group in San Diego, Melissa Tucker recognizes that her church’s known commitment to being open and affirming made it easier to draw in young people. Yet, she knows not everyone is in that position and may need to go to where young people already are.
“I would encourage folks to maybe consider convening this kind of youth space outside of the church space,” Melissa says. “Is there an LGBTQ center or a hub where you could meet? Are there outdoor spaces? Are there community centers? Libraries? I’m just thinking of places where . . . the space itself wouldn’t be off-putting and wouldn’t be working against your message. [We] love having this space here but have also been thoughtful about, ‘Is this the right space to draw teens who don’t already have the trust from us being their pastors or friends with their pastor?’ If we’re going to reach more teens, maybe we need to move out of this space.”
Get comfortable taking risks.
At Generation Spark, Ruth Langkamp works with congregations that want to strengthen relationships with their younger members. The congregations she’s worked with that succeed are those that are not afraid to “become friends with failure in the sense they’re willing to allow things to not be exactly as they planned.”
“When you do have young people with a leadership stake in the congregation, they are going to mess things up,” Ruth says. “Your leadership is going to be on the line. Your name is going to be on the line. So how do you become comfortable being a leader who is comfortable recognizing that there are risks to this way of doing life together? What does it actually look like for you to fully do that? Because then it creates for your community a way of leadership and of transformation that is not just about one person. I think in a world of charismatic leadership, young people are drawn to authentic leaders who are willing to not be the most well-known, the most well-loved, but the most faithful to their calling and excited to bring young people along in the process.”
