Ways to Advertise a Church Youth Group or College Student Ministry

**Note: the following tips, advice and suggestions come from the writer's personal experience in working with two church student ministries between two states. The following article and all contents contained here within are not necessarily reflective of said churches. As any church youth pastor or student ministries worker knows, connecting your group with the local community can often be a daunting task. Let's face it: the vast majority of today's churches do not hire public relations consultants to serve as the gap between your ministry and people who live in the surrounding area. In most cases this responsibility (among countless others) falls onto the shoulders of the youth pastor. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get your ministry's name and group identity into the community.

1. Create, Print and Distribute Visually Appealing Fliers

This idea has been around since the age of the printing press. Find someone within your student ministry staff or church body who possesses a little skill with Photoshop and/or Microsoft Publisher. You may even be able to resort to a student. Either way, you should begin pondering a few ideas for a group logo. If you already have a logo, get it onto a well-designed flier and schedule a day to pass them out to local homes and neighborhoods around your church campus. If you break for lunch, leave a few fliers at the restaurant.

This will serve to get your group's name out among the people and will allow yourself and your students to shake hands with potential church visitors. Encourage your students to be real, genuine and loving in their greetings and interactions. Remind them that they are setting an example for Christ.

2. Negotiate Bulletin Inserts with other Local Churches

If your church shares a community area with other churches, particularly those of similar denominations, venture out and meet the local youth pastors and student ministers. As you continue to build your friendships and relationships with these group leaders, you may soon find yourself planning group activities together. If your churches print bulletins for each Sunday, be sure to announce these activities in each other's bulletins. Mention their group by name in yours and vice versa. Announce any concerts you will be attending together, co-group lock-ins, etc. These inserts will serve to give your group some publicity among other churchgoers and help to incorporate your group with another.

3. Create a Facebook or Twitter Account for your Youth Group or Student Ministry

These days, everything has gone to the web and the online world of social networking has changed the landscape of everyday communication. With a Facebook or Twitter page, not only will your youth group be able to keep your students up to speed with announcements and upcoming events, but your ministry will also be noticed by a much larger audience, particularly people in your immediate city or state. You simply cannot go wrong with this type of publicity. Facebook and Twitter accounts are free and easy to create and utilize.

4. Create a Presence on Local High School and College Campuses

This should go without saying. As a youth pastor, you should get to know your student's high school and/or college campuses. Schedule time to eat lunch with your high school students and visit college campus student ministries such as the Baptist Campus Student Ministries (BCM) and See You at the Pole Ministries. This will give you a chance to meet students who may not attend a local church. Build genuine friendships with these kids and invite them to attend your next big youth activity or event.

During high school football season, you may be able to negotiate a deal with local high schools who will allow you to post a sign or banner somewhere near the football field or close to the scoreboard. This will give your student ministry name some major publicity among students who may never hear of you otherwise.

Remember that part of your mission as a Christ-centered, Biblically-functioning student ministry is to reach lost students and draw them into a relationship with God and into a healthy church life. Your group will not accomplish this by remaining passive and stoic. Get out there and integrate yourself into the local community. Be creative and have fun spreading the word about your youth group!