@Jason,
I grew up United Methodist and just when I was graduating highschool and becoming a volunteer youth leader they implemented Safe Sanctuary. With that it wouldn't even be appropriate for only Tim and I to hang out with one youth, you'd have to have either another youth or another leader who you're not related to. Which gets tricky with driving kids places. If you're the only adult, you'd have to make sure you have 2 youth in the car at all times, and make sure they're not the opposite sex. I think having them meet you somewhere is good and hang out at a park or somewhere where you're in the view of others at all times. It's sad that we have to go to such lengths to cover our backs, but better safe than sorry.

if you switch from church building Bible study to home Bible studies, do you/will you have trouble getting your mid-week program going again when school begins?

Not for us. In fact, the opposite is true. We launch every fall with tremendous momentum that tends to drift away during the rest of the school year. There are a couple reasons why I think the momentum slows that are outside the context of this question, but no, fall ministries always launch strong, partially due to the fact that summer ministry is so different.

That said, all of our high school small groups continue to meet in homes during the school year, so that's not really much of a change. Jr. high small groups meet at the church for transportation issues.

For your situation, I'd suggest you think it through, talk about it with key leaders in your church and youth ministry, and maybe just give it a try to see what happens. If it doesn't work, then for next year you'll know what not to do.

what would be your recommendation for spending one-on-one time with students when it's frowned upon in some ways?

Personally, I don't let fear cripple my ministry. Sure, there's risk involved, but at what cost do you let the risk hinder the ministry? That doesn't mean I throw caution to the wind, but neither do I avoid contact with students either.

Given the context of mistrust in your community, you're probably wise to avoid pushing the boundaries in this area. Do one-on-one but only in public areas and have the student meet you there (either dropped off by a parent or drive there themselves). If you always need another adult around, schedule a time when the two of you can hop in a van, pick up a bunch of kids, and go do something spontaneously. Or, depending on what the church will let you do, maybe meet one-on-one with the parents of a kid you want to invest into. Explain to them ahead of time what your intentions are and how you'd like to partner with them to be a spiritual influence on their teen. Maybe start with your pastor's kids if applicable. If that kid's parents are on your side and encourage it along with the church for that one kid only, maybe you can start there and see how it develops over the next year or two. Regardless, still don't take kids to private places or anything unnecessary like that.

If you're worried about people accusing you of playing favorites, tell them that it's better that you invest into a couple kids personally than into none at all out of fear of criticism. Of course, all the parents want you to invest into their kids, but since you can't do that, pick a few you feel the Lord is leading you toward and encourage other adult leaders to invest into the others.

This is my first summer coming out of a ministry year (1 year in baby!) and I’m a little terrified of chaos… ha. Just looking for some insight into that!

I read your last post and the plethora of comments. It seemed like most of the people that wrote in really appreciated the post. (I loved the mtg with parents over dinner idea!)
I appreciated your posts and I myself am cutting way back on PROGRAMS this summer in order to make room for other things.
I think it's fascinating the "savior complex" type of language that we use. How many comments in your last blog were there comments about how hard we have to work to "save" kids and you should never take a break because Jesus never took a break (actually he took many of them, he also turned down ministry opportunities for the sake of his purpose…)
Are you kidding me? It seems like that is a road that can quickly lead to burnout and shallowness, not to mention the idea that we absolutely cannot stop working for one second because this whole thing is dependent on how many hours we put in….because the great commission doesn't allow for slowing programs down…because if we slow the programs then obviously God cannot work outside of that (sarcasm).

Tim I appreciate your posts and agree…guess it's a ministry philosophy issue.

I get why you felt like you "had to" write this post Tim, but truthfully you don't have to justify how God is leading your ministry (which I'm sure you already know). If you believe that slowing down programs for the summer is the best way to MINISTER to students during that time then press on! Nobody knows what God wants to accomplish through you during that better than you do, and I don't see how any of us on the outside could be critical of you based on an article. I say keep doing what you're doing (following God and your passions) and try not to get frustrated with the people who don't understand.

Thanks for your ministry and following God's leading in your life.

Where is the scaling back? That is a LOT of stuff for summer. Not critical, just a bit confused and unterested.
Walt in Pasadena, TX

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