Being in a small youth group has some great advantages for some students. So many teenagers get lost in the crowd in a mega-church. The individual attention and the family feeling of a small church can make a difference. However, small youth groups have some unique challenges. One of those challenges is that teenagers need interaction with other teenagers. How do you help youth find connection with other students when you only have a few youth in the youth group?

Every situation will be different, but here are a few thoughts:

1. Create times to get together with the youth groups from other small churches. The students from other churches may be just as hungry for interaction with other students as your youth are. Call three or four other small churches and plan some social interaction with a short time of Bible study. Offer to host the event the first time, then encourage the youth leader from another church to host the next one. Do simple things like pizza, bowling, or laser tag. Look for ways to get the students mixing with other students.

2. Take your youth to a Wednesday night youth worship time at a larger church. Check with the youth minister first, but you will probably find him or her very open to you bringing your kids . . . every week, once a month, or once in a while. Try to do this often enough to allow your kids to build relationships with some of the youth from a larger church. Spend some time getting a coke with your students afterward to talk about the message. That will help you keep the experience rich for your students.

3. Take advantage of camps and conferences that allow your students to interact with other students. Events held in your community can be especially good because they allow your students to connect with students they already know from school.

4. Look for opportunities to get your friends to invite their friends . . . even it if it just a burger before a football game on Friday night. Don’t try to “sheep steal.” Encourage kids from other churches to feel at home at your events, but encourage them to stay plugged into their own church. God may lead a family to your church from another church, but sheep stealing shouldn’t be the way we try to grow our churches.