Communication to parents is one of the most important things you can master as a student ministry leader. Most students in your ministry are not responsible for their own schedules, transportation, or finances, which is why it’s vital you develop the art of communicating effectively with parents.
Need more convincing?
- Parents are (for the most part) the ones responsible for getting students to you. Consistency is key– we’ve all heard that before. And we know that when it comes to understanding the implications of the gospel on their lives, students need to be plugged in to student ministry on a consistent basis.
- Parents can become your best partners in ministry. When you can effectively communicate your vision for ministry, parents will catch hold and become small group leaders, lock-in chaperones, snack providers– partners in helping students understand the depth and urgency of the gospel in their lives and the lives of their peers.
Here are five ways you can instantly improve your communication with parents:
- Develop a system and stick to it. Make sure parents know exactly when they should expect to hear from you (every Monday, the first of the month, etc.) and how (via email, blog, etc.)
- Be concise and thorough. Most of the time, parents are looking for dates, times, and cost. Be sure they have all the information they need and nothing that might distract from the message. (Save the clipart or funny stories!)
- Have someone proof-read your message. Don’t overlook the value of this. Even the best of us are prone to grammatical errors and typos. Having someone proof-read your message will help you sound smarter!
- Communicate early and often. If you want students to show up and parents to volunteer, make sure you communicate early enough that they can plan to make it happen. This is especially true for events like camp when you’re asking for money. Send reminders as you work toward certain dates like deposit due dates.
- Don’t rely on students to relay the message. If you pass out a flyer or information on a Wednesday night, follow up with some sort of direct-to-parent communication.
