Service Projects That Make Middle Schoolers Shine! (Part 1)

May 12, 2009

Service projects can be so much more than merely a way to keep over-sugared, schools-out-I’m bored middle schoolers busy this summer.

What about your summer service projects will make your students shine—spreading Jesus’ light to the people around them—not in spite of being middle schoolers, but because of it?

Few people will deny that getting a 12-year-old to spend a few hours packing food bundles for Zambia is a better use of summertime than logging record-breaking hours watching Disney Channel reruns. But your service projects can be so much more than merely a way to keep over-sugared, schools-out-I’m-bored middle schoolers busy this summer.

If we believe middle schoolers are capable of service that changes lives—what does a project look like that empowers them to serve? Being mindful of who God’s made them at this unique stage of life matters!

It matters because middle school service projects can quickly become frustrating if we hold wrong expectations of what young students can and can’t do.
It matters because not every community organization you partner with knows how to set middle schoolers up to serve well.
It matters because a church leader might say no when you ask if middle schoolers can serve with the children’s ministry.
It matters because you and a middle schooler’s parents may disagree on whether 12-year-olds should be using power tools.

A service project that makes middle schoolers shine includes 3 ingredients:

1. Identifiable purpose
2. Specific instructions
3. Compassionate adults

This summer, Batteries will focus on one ingredient each month. The better you own these ingredients, the more fun setting up middle schoolers to serve will be—and the easier you’ll find responding to others’ questions and concerns, too!

Check back in June for the first summer issue! In the meantime, I hope you find time to reflect on & celebrate God’s faithfulness in another year of ministry with students. Your labors are not in vain!

~ Laura Wampach

P.S. Cadre’s about to release a great summer study tool to help you live out Jesus’ pattern of pacing & prayer: Getaway Like Jesus is available for pre-order for just $6 (2 for $10)!