One good way to affirm and encourage the students in your church is to invite them to regularly participate in the life and liturgy of the church.

In I Timothy 4:12 Paul advises his young protégé, “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.”

When I was growing up, the small rural church where I was raised planned a Youth Sunday almost every year. On that Sunday, the junior high and high school students of our church would teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, and lead the various parts of worship including making the announcements, offering the prayers, reading the scriptures, and serving as ushers.

Those are still memorable experiences. Most years I was asked to serve as an usher, but one year I was asked to lead the music, which was way outside my comfort zone.

One of the most impactful things a church can do to enhance a multigenerational approach to ministry is to empower students to take an active role in leading worship. Their energy, creativity, and perspective can breathe fresh energy into our worship experiences.

At the church I currently serve, each year we plan a Student-Led Worship Service where our students lead the entire service. And then throughout the year, we invite students to participate in worship leadership by sharing scripture readings, prayers, music, and creative arts.

Here are 5 reasons we invite our students to lead in worship:

• When students lead in worship it nourishes their faith. Participating in worship leadership can enrich their spiritual journey by prompting them to probe their faith at a deeper level.
• When students lead in worship it cultivates their leadership skills. Active engagement in worship leadership can help them discover their spiritual gifts and further develop their leadership potential.
• When students lead in worship it exercises their creativity. Students are imaginative and expressive, and opportunities to lead in worship can provide a venue for utilizing their artistic gifts.
• When students lead in worship it blesses our congregation. I have noticed that when students and children participate in a worship service, the congregation is uniquely inspired and encouraged.
• When students lead in worship it shapes the future of the church. Inviting our students to lead in worship is not just about giving them a platform; it’s about investing in the future of our church and empowering the next generation of believers.

My participation in worship leadership on those Youth Sundays from my growing-up years broke the ice of getting this shy and introverted kid in front of a loving and supportive congregation. Over the years, as I have witnessed students take part in worship leadership through singing, speaking, planning, greeting, and ushering, these experiences have had a positive influence on the church and made a lasting impact on the students.

A multigenerational church treasures multigenerational participation. In her book, How to Grow Your Church Younger and Stronger, Cecilia Chan insists, “Don’t just invite youths to the party, give them a seat at the table.”

(Barry Howard serves as pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches.)