By Michael J. Brooks
Correspondent, The Alabama Baptist
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions youth ministry strategist Scooter Kellum said he’d been reflecting on Paul’s admonition in 2 Timothy 1:7 that believers not be subject to fear but give themselves to sound minds.
“I know we want to do ministry, but we’re hampered during the virus,” he said. “We’re tired and discouraged, but we must remember God is good and faithful. Challenging times are part of our journey.”
Kellum was featured presenter for the “Student Ministry in Challenging Times” video conference on July 14. Ken Allen, SBOM church health strategist, served as moderator.
Kellum said student ministers are facing three options today. The first is in-person groups.
Three options for meeting
“We’re having smaller groups so they’re easier to manage,” he said. “Leaders need to decide if they’ll meet inside or outside, once a week or once a month. We have to be careful. Teens are so eager to be in community again, they’re likely to excuse their lack of following social distancing guidelines. To them it’s worth the risk.”
Kellum said he’d attended a student service at First Baptist, Decatur, recently.
“The church had the chairs properly spaced out and the church took all precautions,” he said.
“We have to be creative to make this happen, but the worship was sweet to watch.”
The second option is virtual meetings.
“Zoom conferences haven’t worked for all,” he said. “Sometimes the students won’t watch them, though it might work for others.”
And the third option is no meetings at all.
Creative outreach
Kellum noted that student ministers were being creative in outreach, too. Some are doing giveaways in public places and some are going to local parks to play ball and meet people.
“Scott Dawson is having some events this summer, and this is an opportunity,” Kellum said.
“Shocco is open for groups. And don’t forget we can use the phone and call those youth who are uninvolved, and we can write notes to them.”
In response to an audience question about dealing with students who aren’t committed to Christ or their church, Kellum said his practice was not to shame them for missing due to athletic events or beach trips.
“I ask them how their trip was and tell them I missed them,” he said. “I try to keep the focus on discipleship all the time. And I believe leaders must model discipleship in front of them.
For example, if we mess up, we need to ask forgiveness.”
Another questioner asked if “back to school and back to Sunday School” was still workable, since some school districts are talking about delaying the fall term. Kellum said he didn’t believe we have the answers yet.
“I think you must define the target for your church and do what’s best,” he said. “It’s been a moving target, but maybe the moving target is slowing down and will be easier to hit.”
Getting back together
Allen added his feeling that it’s critical for congregations to get back together.
“It may involve being smaller, at least for now,” he said.
Another questioner asked about students being so excited to be together that they don’t pay attention to Bible study or worship. Kellum acknowledged this is common and said this is usually handled better at youth camps where leaders have several days to drive home their themes and work on bonding.
Allen interjected that many associations have campgrounds and day camps are a possibility this summer for student ministry.
Kellum said he’d seen church staffs communicating better and working harder in recent months.
“One youth pastor told me about cleaning the bathrooms on Sunday morning,” he said with a laugh. “We are the body of Christ and we’re called to serve one another.”
Kellum can be reached at 800-264-1225, extension 280 or by email at skellum@alsbom.org.
Share with others: