Let Them Know You're Thinking of Them

Great question Tonya. We’d love more ideas for that crowd, too. The general emphasis here is that contact matters, whether those kids are far away or close to home–or still at home. We’ve heard from students who stayed at home post-graduation and felt alienated from their churches because there was nowhere for them to belong, and their youth ministry relationships strangely ended. Enlist adults in the church to be contacting & caring for these kids in creative ways, too!

Jenn, this reminds me of a story. There was one girl our youth ministry never really connected with in high school, but we tried to send her a few notes during her freshman year of college. Then the summer after her first year of college she showed up and said “I have some extra time–can I help with anything?” She ended up being an incredible servant in our ministry that summer and beyond. So sometimes even the kids we aren’t very connected with find our contact meaningful, and that contact may even open the door for a relationship later.