"I have enough volunteers," said no one ever, right? At least, not me. It seems that just as we add more people to the team, others step out of serving due to the season they’re in. Sometimes, people even see me approaching, suddenly check their watches, and leave, pretending to be late for something. True story. Kids ministry is vital to church growth and important to families, yet it can be one of the hardest areas to find committed volunteers who can show kids Jesus week after week. I struggled with this for years—closing classrooms and bribing volunteers with coffee gift cards and scented candles. No amount of begging or bribing worked in the long term.

Then, one day, as I encouraged my soon-to-be sixth graders that moving up was a good thing, I realized they were more than just a group of kids completing a milestone. They have a voice. They want to be seen, appreciated, valued, and wanted—and they want to serve. Paul encouraged Timothy in the same way: "Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV).

I took this to heart and launched a program called Student Interns. This initiative has grown successfully over the years and has become one of the perks for kids moving from children's ministry to student ministry. Here's a more detailed explanation:

The Why
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Let’s face it—kids ministry needs fun, energetic people to keep the excitement alive in games, dinosaur stories, and all things Play-Doh. Your youth ministry students might be exactly what you're looking for. They are the voice of this generation, and believe it or not, they have the desire to make a difference. It's a wonderful opportunity not only for them but for the church as well.

The benefits are incredible. These students will learn under your leaders, grow their talents and gifts, and enhance their job applications and college entry forms. Not to mention the character reference letters you could write for these students in the future. The benefits are endless when it comes to investing in students from sixth to twelfth grade.

How Does This Look in Practice?

Responsibilities
• Contribute to the kids ministry.
• Serve one Sunday a month.
• Meet regularly with the children's pastor.
• Help with events in church and kids ministry.
• Bring creative ideas to our meetings.
• Have fun!

Requirements
• Must be a student in grades six through twelve.
• Active in church and student ministry.
• Be teachable.
• Have a great attitude.
• Be flexible.

What is Gained and Taught
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Teach them grace. Everyone should strive to offer grace to each team member, child, parent, or guardian, both inside and outside the church walls.

What does that look like?
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• Always be prepared to forgive.
• See things from others' perspectives.

Teach them how to show love to everyone they interact with. Remember, everyone is made in the image of God and should be treated with love, respect, and dignity.

What does that look like?
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• Love each other as Jesus loves you.
• Respect each other with honor.
• Listen to understand, not just to respond.
• Know that the result of love, respect, and dignity is peace, allowing everyone to show up as they are, knowing they are accepted.

Teach them the importance of safety. All areas of kids ministry should uphold high safety standards for children, families, student interns, and the volunteer team. The goal is to ensure each parent feels confident in our classroom organization and methods.

What does that look like?
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• Take the Disney approach: If you see something out of place, pick it up or clean it up.
• Greet parents and kids with confidence. This will reassure parents that you are a capable leader.
• Know where things are. Always be familiar with the first aid kit, emergency procedures, and incident reports.

These are just a few valuable insights student interns will gain as they serve and work with others. What do you have to lose, except the opportunity to have amazing youth serve and learn to lead under exceptional leadership like yours and your church’s?​

Tish Striegel has served in Children's Ministry for over 25 years and is currently the Children's Pastor at Hill City Church in Southern Indiana, a suburb of Louisville, KY. She graduated from the inaugural KidMin Academy class in 2016. Tish is the author of four books: My Journey to Wholeness, Truth About Baby, The Truth About Me, and The Truth About Me: Preteen Edition. She is passionate about children’s and family ministry and loves good coffee, writing, and helping others realize their potential. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 30 years, raised three children, and are currently enjoying being grandparents to eight grandchildren.

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