Having Student Volunteers in Your Disability Ministry

Student volunteers can bring energy, joy, and a unique perspective to disability ministry. In episode 161 of Key Ministry: The Podcast, Amy Kendall shares why involving students is not only beneficial for the kids being served, but also for the volunteers themselves and the entire ministry team.

Why Student Volunteers Make a Difference

• Energy and Enthusiasm
  • Students often arrive full of excitement and joy.
  • Their positive energy is contagious and uplifting for both kids and adults.
• Relatability
  • Older kids naturally gravitate toward student volunteers.
  • Teens and young adults know current trends, sports, and music, making them more relatable.
• Reliability and Availability
  • Students often have fewer family/work conflicts compared to adults.
  • Many schools even require volunteer hours, motivating students to commit regularly.
• Altruism and Leadership Potential
  • Teens want to make a difference in the world.
  • Volunteering builds their confidence and reveals God-given gifts.
• Peer Influence
  • Students are more likely to invite friends to serve alongside them.
  • Serving with peers can multiply your volunteer team.

Best Practices for Including Student Volunteers

• Age Guidelines
  • Start with junior high and high school students.
  • Ensure a healthy age gap between volunteers and children.
  • Always secure parental permission before involving younger students.
• Mentorship Matters
  • Pair students with trusted adult mentors for guidance and encouragement.
  • Encourage adult leaders to connect with students inside and outside ministry (attending games, shows, or events when possible).
• Safety First
  • Never leave student volunteers alone with children.
  • Restrict toileting/diapering to adult female leaders only.
  • Avoid assigning student volunteers to children with significant aggression issues.
• Parent Communication
  • Let staff and adult leaders handle difficult conversations with parents.
  • Students should remain the “fun and cool” helpers in the eyes of families.

Building Community with Student Volunteers

• Relational Investment
  • Host fun outings (meals, beach days, hikes, etc.) outside of ministry time.
  • Strengthen bonds so volunteers feel valued and connected.
• Special Training
  • Offer sessions designed specifically for students.
  • Create safe spaces for them to ask questions without feeling intimidated by adults.
• Leadership Opportunities
  • Allow students to lead a huddle, run part of the service, or organize a group activity.
  • Empower them to discover and grow their leadership gifts.

Giving Students a Voice

Students often bring fresh insight and creativity:

• Share ideas for games, songs, or activities.
• Suggest ways to connect with peers on social media or at school.
• Help identify cultural trends that adults might miss.

Final Encouragement

If your volunteer base is mostly adults, consider partnering with your youth pastor or local schools to invite student volunteers. You may discover some of your most enthusiastic, gifted, and long-term ministry partners in the younger generation.

Student volunteers don’t just fill a spot—they breathe new life into your disability ministry while discovering their own God-given purpose.

✨ Challenge: This week, explore one way you can invite students to step into your ministry. Their excitement might just inspire the whole team!