Cory Sullivan and I share a few ideas of what we have done in the past and currently for graduates after they graduate.
- Keep the relationships going. Whether they are off to college or staying local, find ways to keep the relationships going as you may be the only adult who can keep that person connected to church in this transition year.
- Find ways to keep graduates engaged in the Church. It could be having them share at youth events or even do “Alumni Events” where you are taking graduates and keeping them connected to each other, some caring adults and the church
- Explore some Leader options with them. There are a ton of opportunities around the church, not just in student ministry, but all over the church where they can connect and serve one of the existing ministries.
- Connect them to others in the Church. Unfortunately you may not be as able as before to hang out with the graduates as you have a whole new group of students to invest in. However, if you want to keep graduates engaged in the Church, help them connect with other adults in the Church who they can start building new friendships with and that can help them with that next stage of life they are in.