Each school night, the gym and athletic fields at the high school near our church are full. Student-athletes on the football team, soccer teams, cheer team, and basketball teams are practicing and playing games, often late into the evening. With rates of parent involvement down, many local high schools need help feeding these teams dinner. That’s where our church has stepped in.
Our church prepares an evening meal for the football team every Friday of the season—from August to November. That shakes out to hundreds of hot meals served to student-athletes. It’s also many hours of interaction between church members and public school students and their coaches.
Missional opportunities like this abound. Because of their many volunteer needs, local public schools provide our churches an untapped (and unexpectedly open) opportunity to share the gospel through word and deed. Here are three ways to mobilize your church for this mission.
1. Be visible. Build on relationships that already exist.
The schools in your area may not know your church exists, but your church likely has a connection to those schools already. Are any teachers, administrators, or coaches also members of your church? Do church members have children or grandchildren who attend the school? Do alumni from the school attend your church?
Because of their many volunteer needs, public schools provide our churches an untapped opportunity to share the gospel.
A ministry to a school starts with noticing the relationships already present. It grows when we determine to use those relationships for the sake of mission.
Our local elementary school hosted a Career Day. Each teacher opened her classroom to professionals who came to tell the children about their jobs. The teacher who coordinated the speakers was part of our church, so she scheduled a mechanic, nurse, insurance agent . . . and a pastor. Through that opportunity, the pastor (with Bible in hand) was able to share with multiple classes what a church leader is and does.
2. Be of value. Prioritize service.
Does your local school think of your church as a resource? When the school has needs, does it turn to your church for help? Does it see your church’s presence as a value-add for the school’s educational mission? If your church were to close down or relocate, would the schools nearby suffer from your absence?
Serving your community isn’t the church’s primary mission, but when you love your neighbors (including schools), doors can open for the gospel. Just imagine: What if a school were so confident in your church’s care that when students had needs, it referred them to your church for help?
The librarian in our local elementary school was searching for adults who could come and read books to kindergarten, first-, and second-grade classes. Word about the need was sent to moms and dads, and one parent (who’s part of our church) contacted the librarian to tell him our church has several individuals who would be willing to read to the children. From that point, we began sending volunteer readers regularly. We even get to pick the books!
3. Be vocal. Be ready to speak about Jesus.
Our Lord says, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35). So as you love and serve schools, keep your eyes open for opportunities to “[give] a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15). When those opportunities come, they may surprise you.
What if a school were so confident in your church’s care that when students had needs, it referred them to your church for help?
Once, a retired police officer (and former football player at a local high school) stopped by our church office. He’d heard about our church feeding the football team, and he was intrigued. The man had a lot of questions. He asked how we put together the volunteer teams, how often we brought meals, and how we paid for the meals.
For several years now, he’s been making donations to support the meal ministry. But that’s not the best result of that relationship. This retired cop also began attending our church. He eventually came to trust in Christ and was baptized. Today, he’s an active member of our church body, and it started because he heard about a local church feeding a local high school football team.
Jesus says, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Our churches shouldn’t be indifferent to the lost and dying around us. We should eagerly seek out open doors for sharing the good news. So consider the neighborhoods around your church. Could there be an open door at the public schools?
