Many churches assume meaningful youth ministry requires extensive programming and resources. Laura Heikes shows how simple, relational experiences often have the greatest impact. She offers five practical ideas that will help churches of any size engage young people this summer.
It’s summer! School is out and your church may be wondering how to meaningfully engage young people in the coming months. Don’t be intimidated. You don’t need a flashy program, an expensive trip, or even a paid staff person to make a lasting impact. What young people need most is surprisingly simple: caring adults, meaningful relationships, opportunities to contribute, and a place where they belong. Here are five straightforward ways to foster that connection this summer.
1. One night can be enough.
Don’t over-program. With busy schedules, most families appreciate the break summer provides. Having a regular offering one night a week is enough. Aim for something that is relational, consistent (same night and time every week), and flexible enough that students can miss a week and still feel fully engaged when they return.
If you’re feeling intimidated by the flashy youth program down the street, take a breath. All churches, even small ones, can offer spiritual grounding, community, and unconditional acceptance. I was amazed at how quickly our youth program grew when a few volunteers began offering a weekly Wednesday night Bible study. In one year, our youth group grew from about six students to 20. The key was caring adults and a program that was consistent, welcoming, open to questions, and full of acceptance.
Pick a night, gather a few volunteers, and ask students what they would like to study. Use a simple pattern that can be repeated each week. Choose a scripture, read it several times in different voices or translations, and ask what stands out. We used three questions: What does this teach us about God? What does this teach us about people? What would change if we lived this out? Using the same pattern each week built familiarity and quietly taught students how to engage scripture on their own.
2. Food, Food, Food!
I have yet to meet a young person who doesn’t equate free food, on some level, with love. Pizza is always a hit, but get creative! Invite church members to provide meals: taco bars, pasta nights, baked potato bars, or build-your-own rice bowls. Adults who want to support youth ministry but feel intimidated can start with connections over meals.
Consider asking students what recipes they have seen on TikTok or other online sources. Our young people suggested TikTok smashburgers and “marry me pasta.” Pairing a study with a different student-selected meal each week can be a low-cost, high-impact success.
You can also consider making the meal together. I suspect you have some good chefs in your congregation. Turn on some music and head to the church kitchen! Some of the best conversations happen while chopping vegetables, setting tables, and washing dishes together. Shared work creates natural opportunities for relationship. You might even make a few extra plates to share with homebound members or new parents.
3. Leverage your resources.
Do you have a member with a pool? Someone whose house has a movie room? A person with access to a ranch, swimming hole, or even an ostrich farm? Perhaps someone is connected to a local sports team or theater. See if they would host the youth group once this summer.
These outings won’t break the bank, and they encourage intergenerational connection. Research consistently shows that young people who develop meaningful relationships with unrelated adults are more likely to remain connected to faith as they age. Summer offers a unique opportunity to build those connections.
Here are a few other low-cost ideas:
- Outdoor movie nights with a projector, popcorn, and an invitation to neighbors.
- Scavenger hunts. I once led one in a predominantly Spanish-speaking part of town with a mostly Anglo youth group. They discovered new foods, met new people, and built unexpected connections.
- Prayer walks around schools, neighborhoods, and business districts.
- Chalk art with encouraging messages in parks and community spaces.
- Free lemonade stations on a hot afternoon.
- Water balloon fights and slip-and-slides for simple summer fun.
4. Serve your community.
Youth ministry isn’t simply about what youth consume. At its best, our churches should be helping young people discover what they have to offer. Ask your students what breaks their hearts and where they see needs in the community. Then help them respond.
Our youth group chose a local animal shelter. They walked dogs, played with kittens, and eventually began bringing a few well-behaved animals to a nearby nursing home to visit residents. The animals gave students an easy way to connect and brought tremendous joy to seniors who hadn’t interacted with a pet in years.
Service helps young people translate faith into action. When students see the difference they can make, their faith grows.
5. Let them lead. Really!
Youth ministry should be with and by youth, not simply for them. Give young people real leadership roles, not token responsibilities. Invite them to suggest and plan events, lead discussions, choose meals, organize outings, and offer prayers.
Help each student discover what they can contribute and celebrate those gifts.
The goal isn’t perfection. A youth-planned event may be messier than one designed by adults, but leadership grows through practice.
Foster connection, not flash.
Summer youth ministry doesn’t require a large budget, a packed calendar, or endless creativity. This summer, focus on building relationships. Long after the water balloons have burst and the summer schedule has ended, those relationships may be what young people remember most—and what keeps them connected to God and the church for years to come.
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Related Resources
- 50 Ways to Strengthen Ministry with Youth, a free resource from the Lewis Center
- Give the Mic Away: The Team-Based Shift That Grows Faithful Youth by Laura Heikes
- Understanding the Cultural Realities of Children and Youth Today by Janet Craswell and Angela Pupino
- 10 Keys to Intergenerational Leadership by Valerie Grissom
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