How can it possibly be back to school time again already? It seems like just yesterday school let out and the madness of summer began. But all over the commonwealth, schools are back in session, and our students have returned to one of the biggest mission fields in our communities. I trust that we have sent them off well.

Usually this time of year, we talk about preparing our students and school faculty and staff to go back to their mission field. But this time, I want to address it from the other side of the coin.

How are we preparing the adults who are pouring into those students we have sent back to school? What plans do we have to equip those small group leaders, Sunday School teachers, bus drivers, chaperones, parents or any other adults who will be systematically pouring into our students? I know training sounds boring and takes time to execute. But if we expect our adults to be at their best, then we need to provide them with opportunities to improve their skills in whatever responsibilities they have.

So let’s look at some places we may need to consider offering training.

Curriculum usage—One of the biggest expenditures in most every youth budget is curriculum. When we look at the dollars we spend on Sunday School literature, Wednesday night studies, Sunday night stuff, small group and Dnow resources, it can be mind-boggling.

In order for us to be good stewards of those resources, we need to train our leaders in how the publisher puts it together and wants it to be used, as well as the purpose it serves in our ministry and our desired outcome. It could also be helpful to our leaders for us to give the reasons why we picked this particular line of curriculum to use and some information about the publisher.

Providing teachers with teaching materials without providing adequate training on how to use them is like giving a guy a new set of golf clubs without teaching him how to use them. Regardless of how good the clubs are, without lessons on how to use them, he is still going to be a hacker on the course.

Out of class expectations—What expectations, if any, do you place on your workers? Do you want them to plan out of class experiences with their students (mission projects, social gatherings and a social media presence)? Have you trained them in how best to use their time and resources? Have you given them at least a general idea on what is expected, and how they can expect you to provide support for their efforts? Have you trained them in ways to remain above reproach in these situations?

Praying for the students—Honestly, I would hope you wouldn’t have to do a lot of training in this area, but if the abundance of research is any indication, we need to train our adults not only on the importance of prayer, but also how to pray.

A 2014 survey by The Washington Post concluded that people age 15 and over in Kentucky spent an average of nine minutes a day engaged in any religious activity. We need to train our workers that praying for our students and their lost friends is an expectation, and then give them some practical ways to do so.

How to share the gospel—This is another area that you would think would be a no-brainer, but I am constantly amazed in the trainings that I do how many youth workers (and some youth ministers) do not feel adequately trained to share the gospel. When pressed on what they would do if a gospel conversation started, many say they would find the pastor, or the youth pastor to share the gospel with the student.

We need to share the gospel story with our workers, train them with ways to share their faith story and to also share the gospel story with the students with which they have been entrusted. Sharing the gospel shouldn’t be a “well if that happens I’ll figure it out” expectation, but instead it should be an intentional part of all that we do.

Good training helps prepare our adult workers who prepare our students who are daily on the front line of missions.