As student pastors, we have all had to come face to face with the reality that we are going to have to plan an event, but is your team good at it? Here are a 3 ways to build intentional events that students actually want to attend, along with a few tips and tricks to make those events irresistible!
EVENT TIP# 1: The Why & When?
First and foremost, when it comes to any intentional event, you have to understand the WHY behind it. This should be part of your overall ministry strategy. Why does this event exist? Many times, this is one of the most difficult questions to answer. Because of capacity or tradition, the easiest answer becomes, “Because we have always done it this way.” Being intentional with our events, invites us to go deeper.
Here’s my WHY: We believe that small groups are the most important places for students to learn and grow in a faith of their own. Our events exist to provide momentum to those small groups.
When it comes to events, I always recommend using them at strategic times of the year to catapult momentum forward. Outside of an incredible weekly environment, there is nothing better at creating momentum in a student ministry. We have identified specific times throughout the year when we need to host events to create momentum and accomplish our overall ministry strategy.
EVENT IDEA #1: WINTER WEEKEND
In February, we host a three day weekend event called Winter Weekend. It is centered around getting students away from everyday life and placing them in front of their small group leaders in a focused environment.
EVENT IDEA #2: DOUBLE DOG DARE-A-THON
In April, we host an invite focused event called Double Dog Dare-a-thon. This is a late night experience built around giving students the opportunity to invite their friends to something fun.
EVENT IDEA #3: SUMMER KICKOFF
June marks the start of our new ministry year with incoming students. We kick off the summer with Summer Kickoff, an event designed entirely around fun and helping students connect to our ministry, leaders, and new friends for the first time. In July, we host a five day camp centered around the Lead 222 principles.
EVENT IDEA #4: BACK 2 SCHOOL BASH
In August, right after school starts, we throw a block party called Back 2 School Bash that is all about inviting friends and engaging them in a fun environment.
EVENT IDEA #5: CELEBRATION
Finally, in December, our last gathering of the year is designed to celebrate what God has done and simply have a blast together.
Having events is never the problem. Identifying which events need to happen and what works for your context is the difficult part. In my context, most of our events are built to engage friends through fun, but more importantly, to help them meet our small group leaders. The more we can get students in front of our incredible leaders, the higher the likelihood that they will ultimately begin attending our weekly environments.
EVENT TIP #2: The Plan
Once you have figured out why and when your events happen, you have to execute them well. That often takes years of building systems and experience before you feel confident in what you are doing. I use a very simple 4 part framework: Wow Factor, Engagement, Fun, and Teaching.
A. THE WOW FACTOR
The WOW factor is about asking, “What can I do to make this event special?” Is it in the programming, the games, the hosts, or how big you go with worship? How can you create a moment that students remember and that sparks the thought, “I want to learn more about this ministry”?
B. ENGAGEMENT
Engagement within the event and engagement in your overall ministry are different. We use events to move students toward our weekly environments. That is where we disciple them. We use these events as opportunities to engage students and their friends with something fun that ultimately strengthens our small groups.
C. FUN
And finally, fun. Do not let this get lost in the stress of planning. Fun is the glue that creates small groups students actually want to be part of. What can you do that is special, age appropriate, and engaging? Some of our events include elements of worship and teaching. But alongside those moments, we have color wars, inflatables, water games, bubble machines, simple backyard games, game trucks, and food.
D. TEACHING
Every week we offer practical, biblical teaching, and small groups. However, many of our events do not include formal teaching because we use them to build relationships and engage students into our weekly environments.
Every context is different, but events are pivotal to student ministries. They help generate excitement and grow interest in the environments that host them. If there is no excitement or interest around your events, you have a hard decision to make. Either end the event or reinvent it from the ground up by returning to its purpose and why.
EVENT TIP #3: The Evaluation
One of the biggest factors that turns a good event into a great one is evaluation. Continue to push yourself to improve. Make things better when needed. Mistakes will happen. Identify them, create a plan, and adjust from year to year.
CELEBRATE: What things went well?
REFINE: What could we improve?
TWEAK: What would you keep and what would change?
EVENT RESOURCE
Here’s a quick Evaluation Tool to use with your student leaders and volunteers after your next event.
(Adapted from www.amplifyministries.org)
OVERVIEW
How did the event go overall?
ORGANIZATION
Was the event well planned and organized?
OUTCOME
Did the event accomplish your goals?
PRO TIP:
Events cost money, sometimes a lot. We ask students to cover a portion of the cost, and our church covers the rest. Our only paid events are Winter Weekend, Lead Camp, and Double Dog. Sometimes, it can be difficult to justify the cost of events. However, when you see small groups growing week after week and students taking steps toward Jesus, it is worth it.
Author: Devin Armbrust (Lead222 Coach) • Posted: March 2026
