Sunday worship, student ministry, family ministry, and back-to-school gatherings can bless students publicly.
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AWAKE Student Commissioning Guide
Recognize and send students as ambassadors for Christ in the school year ahead.
Send students into the school year with prayer.
Commissioning is a public way to tell students they are seen, loved, prayed for, and sent as witnesses of Christ in everyday campus life.
Use this in a Sunday service, youth gathering, family night, or back-to-school event.
Keep the commissioning moment brief inside worship, or expand it to twenty minutes in a student gathering.
Pray over students by campus and invite families to claim those schools.
01
Service flow
Keep the moment simple enough for students to receive it without feeling singled out awkwardly.
Invite students forward
Ask elementary, middle, high school, college, and homeschool students to stand or come forward with no pressure.
Name the calling
Remind students that their school year matters to God and that their ordinary faithfulness can show Christ to friends.
Invite adults to pray
Ask parents, guardians, educators, small-group leaders, and the church family to extend a hand or gather nearby.
Send with blessing
Close with a short prayer and a clear phrase students can remember.
- Tell students what will happen before inviting them forward.
- Avoid asking students to share publicly unless they were prepared ahead of time.
- Keep the moment honoring for students who are shy, new, or uncertain.
02
Student charge
Use this short charge before the prayer.
Read aloud
Students, your school is not separate from your life with Jesus. You are sent into classrooms, teams, clubs, buses, cafeterias, and friendships as people who carry His light. Walk with humility. Love with courage. Tell the truth. Look for the lonely. Pray for your campus. Christ goes with you.
- Use the phrase "Christ goes with you" as the repeated sending line.
- Name a few local schools represented by students in the room.
- Invite students to silently name one friend they want to pray for this year.
03
Parent and leader blessing
Give adults words to pray that are specific and hopeful.
For courage
Lord, give these students courage to follow You when it is costly and compassion when others are hurting.
For wisdom
Lord, give them wisdom in choices, friendships, words, habits, and digital spaces.
For witness
Lord, open natural doors for encouragement, service, prayer, and Gospel hope.
- Invite parents or leaders to pray a one-sentence blessing over each student.
- Give students a simple prayer card or reminder phrase.
- Ask adults to keep praying for the same student or campus for the first month of school.
04
Take-home mission charge
Give students one practical rhythm they can carry into the year.
Pray weekly
Choose one day each week to pray for your campus, one teacher, and one friend by name.
Notice daily
Ask God to help you notice someone who needs encouragement, friendship, or help.
Share naturally
Be ready to say why you have hope in Christ when a real conversation opens.
- Share the charge with families by email or text after the service.
- Connect students with student ministry leaders for follow-up.
- Invite the church to claim the schools represented by commissioned students.
Commissioning
Commission students and cover their campuses.
After the service, claim the schools represented by your students and keep those campuses in prayer.