Youth Engaged in Service
"Helping as a calling." — Elim Christian Fellowship
"Every faith has helping as a calling," points out Youth Pastor Tommy McClam of the 1,800-member Elim Christian Fellowship in Buffalo, New York. McClam stresses that helping is not a one-time activity: It needs to be built into the fabric of church culture. And the best place to start is with young members.
McClam's congregation engages 400–500 youth volunteers in a wide array of community projects based on real needs—not simply perceptions of need. McClam encourages other faith-based and community organizations to conduct a needs assessment and map assets in their communities before embarking on service projects. In McClam's program, all ministry leaders meet regularly to plan new service projects based on such assessments. They also take time to evaluate the impact of the projects once the work is done.
McClam notes that relationship building is key to tackling community needs and can smooth the way for other programs and ministries. "Almost every congregation will have members already involved in some kind of 'helping work' or service," he says. "Find out who those folks are and what doors they can open. Then plan your youth service activities accordingly." If you only have a handful of youth volunteers, look to partner with an existing service organization. If you have a large youth group, you might be able to accomplish large service projects on your own, but McClam says it's good to collaborate whenever possible.
Other tips from McClam's experience:
- Conduct a pre-visit to volunteer sites to identify potential problems; then share what you learn so kids have realistic expectations. McClam discovered the importance of pre-visits when he took a group to a local prison to help make greeting cards. On arrival, they discovered that new procedures required all children volunteers to present an original birth certificate to get in.
- Recognize that different projects appeal to different age groups. Junior high and younger volunteers are attracted to helping projects like neighborhood clean-ups. Older teens respond to "passion" projects such as working with AIDS and hospice patients.
- Publicly rewarding and celebrating service helps attract more youngsters. Publicize service awards as much as possible and present them in front of family, friends, and the congregation.
McClam believes that engaging youth in service is part of a natural survival strategy. "If you're going to be successful as a congregation," he says, "it's essential to be successful with youth volunteers. They are the future of the congregation."
