What do you do when a pandemic prevents you from personally connecting to the teens in your parish? The youth directors at St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs have transformed their youth ministry in order to stay connected during this current pandemic. The wife/husband team Sally and Randall Pierce stepped up to the plate in ways that are beyond the norm.
1. Weekly youth group meetings are done via Zoom. Although the meetings are shorter due to the free software’s limitations, it’s still a great way to connect with students.
2. A short weekly video devotion (2-3 minutes) is put on the church’s YouTube channel and posted on the Youth Alive Facebook page.
3. Cards and notes are sent out via snail mail. Sometimes it’s just a short note to say hi. Sometimes it’s a short lesson to go with the Zoom meeting.
4. Flocknote is used to send weekly encouragements or Zoom invitations.
5. The youth group has its own Instagram account. Sally is the Instagramer, Randall is the video guy.
Although there is no live personal contact, the youth directors at St. Mary Church are using YouTube, Facebook, Flocknote, Instagram and Zoom to keep their youth ministry working and staying connected.
