As anyone who has “been around” student ministry recognizes, youth ministry is ever-shifting. It’s not that the content changes, nor the need. All of that remains the same. But the method, or form, changes. In other words, how you “do ministry” should adapt over the years. For example, in the ’90s, youth ministry was often event-driven. In the 2000s, youth ministry became Small Group focused. In the 2010s, the central impulse became that of “mobilizing students.” So what will be the “big thing” in student ministry in the upcoming years?

I will never forget the 2018 discussion that I had with a youth director and friend. We discussed what was working in our ministries, what wasn’t, and what we thought the future held. Then, without any irony in his voice, this 20-year youth ministry vet said, “You know what I’ve come to realize? Small groups. That’s it. That’s what the kids need.”

While I am happy that my friend came to this realization, it was unfortunate that he was years behind the curve on this issue. Small groups, aka discipleship, have always been a need. It’s not merely a fad. All of the significant ministry “movements” are necessary, but we need to ensure they occupy their proper place in the church. Balance is crucial.

Most youth directors get this. We balance games and teaching, worship and service. We balance private school and public school, discipleship and outreach. But, in the past two years, COVD-19 has sent a shockwave through youth ministries around the world. For every youth ministry that thrived, two others fell apart. That shouldn’t be shocking news. The shocking news should be the decline in school attendance.

What’s Happening to School Attendance?
According to ThinkImpact.com, from 2019 to the autumn of 2020, the percentage of American homeschooled students increased from 3.4% to 9%. It is easy to explain that number by the COVID-19 shutdowns because it was the primary factor. However, of that number, 54% of the new homeschool families (2.8% of the 5.6% increase) plan to homeschool indefinitely. This means that homeschooling as almost doubled in eighteen months. Additionally, with many jobs now permanently assigned as “work from home” employment, experts believe there will be a further significant increase in the homeschool population in upcoming years.

Why does this matter to Youth Directors?
This matters because I believe that youth ministry is in for its next significant shift: the homeschool movement. As a result, Student Ministry Leaders need to begin programming ministry accordingly, planning activities that caters to this growing demographic. Obviously, I don’t mean ALL programming should happen during school hours. Continue doing what you are doing for the private and public school students. Go to games, dances, plays, FCA events, See You At The Pole, and more. Continue meeting those students where they are. However, culture demands Student Ministry Leaders add another ripple to their ministry–the homeschool focus.

If the homeschool population is about to burst, you need to consider incorporating programming explicitly geared for homeschoolers. While I know that homeschoolers are typically not who youth ministries gear outreach and connectional activities around due to being a relatively low percentage of the teen population, things are changing. Do not ignore this and fall behind. It’s time to add another “movement” into balance with the rest of our youth ministry strategy.