Postby Joey » February 2nd, 2007, 8:14 am
Does your youth minister have teens? Would he/she be able to at least be able to go back in time and remember what it was like or has it been so long that they forgot what it was like?
If these answers are no, then he may be in the wrong area of ministry.
See if he would be comfortable somewhere else?
A part time Youth minister's schedule:
Sunday -
Sunday School: Class is geared to understand that teens don't sleep on Saturday night. Bring food (donuts & pop) and have a lesson that incorporates scripture, but also with light hearted reality. A few moments of catching up in the beginning of class may even lead the youth minister to realize an opportunity to minister to another need rather than the lesson prepared. This forces the minister to be on their toes scripturally and spiritually. Sensitive to what only the Holy Spirit can know.
When the regular worship service starts, beg, plead, whatever, to get them to sit with you, close to the front. The leader leads by example and the youth realize they are an important part of the congregation. For the most part they are shy, but this is important to keep them from just warming a pew in the back. If you pretty much force them to sit together, it takes the pressure off of them on seating because you "made them" sit there. On any given Sunday, we have 8 -15 teenagers sitting on the 3rd and 4th pews.
After church for lunch, we have an unwritten rule that we all save enough money through the week to go out to the local diner. It's not much, but kids will eat anything and it keeps the social train going. They are social creatures and MUST have this time.
After lunch, the "herd" has usually realized what it wants to do next, so they load up (even some adults) and head to that place. Cards, riding 4 wheelers, horses, movies, rent a movie, ...whatever. This usually requires some effort from the teens parents to offer their homes as sacrifice.
Monday -
It's not unusual to have one or two of the driving teens to stop by or the younger ones to text message your phone. Text messaging and myspacing are true necessities for the youth minister of today. You have to stay with the times and buy the toys. If there is service work to be done at the church or with other members, this is the day to plan that. GET THE YOUTH INVOLVED. This will bring buy-in. When the youth can walk through the church or see an elder in the church that they ministered to in some way, they will feel more like a part of the team then what the COGOP organization made them feel like this past Assembly or two. The organization does not realize the resource they have in these youth/young adults, but by leaving them out as they do, we say their not important and then we wonder why they don't want to come?
Tuesday -
Perhaps a few are able to meet up tonight to do whatever is needed in the body. Cut the grass, fix the roof, meet and pray with someone, etc. Teach them to do this secretly and to allow the Lord to get the credit. But they will learn that even as the Lord gets the credit, they get a blessing too. They began to feel like a part of the body as they "wash the feet"(symbolically) of the saints.
Wednesday -
At the very least, teach them to save this weeknight for church. The Hebrews 10:25 scripture warns us to stick together for encouragement, especially as the days get harder. No verse says it better to the young person. They need encouragement, so be very in tune with the Lord as you select a topic or passage of scripture to discuss.
Yes, you must have discussion about topics. It takes a smart leader to realize that the kids will not learn much from his preaching. The youth learn from their own discoveries and that every success and failure means something. Teach REAL life stuff. They don't care that moses led the people through the wilderness - unless it makes since to them in relation to their life.
Teach them that if their work schedule keeps them from meeting together, then they probably need to find another job. Is this too big for God to do? Let it be one of their first miracles they prayed for.
Thursday -
More text messaging and calls around the group to set up the weekend. Then they call the youth minister and tell him/her what they are doing - may invite the youth minister to his own house. If he has food, then ok.
Friday -
Either do a monthly fellowship gathering, or guide them to hang together. What you're doing is multi purposed. You're not only teaching them to stick together, but you're helping them to develop bonds where they will check to see what each other is doing before they go somewhere else. Keeps them out of trouble most of the time, and helps us to know where they are and be able to watch them closer because they are still youth and have temptations.
We have sleepovers all of the time, but we never allow them to sleep boy/girls in the same place. They split up at that point. They understand because we also talk about sexual temptations and relationships all of the time. (another example of talking about real life) On that subject, they say it creeps them out when an adult talks to them about it, but I've learned that they really want to know these "secrets" but they play it cool.
Saturday -
More of the same sleepover stuff. the youth minister gets little sleep because he goes to bed last and wakes up first, but you have to keep a safe place for the parents to entrust their kids to you and for the kids to realize their will be no craziness at your house. Your house is a safe place. There will be 50 sleepovers or get together at the youth ministers house if he is serious about his ministry. Ministry does not take place in 2 hours a week (Sunday morning and wed night) but if God has led you to be a youth minister, you're a youth minster 24/7. Even if it means waking up at 3am because one of them has called you to come get them because they're in trouble.
There are many nights that it will just be one or two of you, talking about a problem over coffee. Sometimes, you'll even have to deal with them not wanting you around - when that happens, go out with your spouse. On that note, DO Include the spouse in the youth ministry - it brings balance!!!!
Be like Jesus to them. Love them without payback. Open your house to them until they know they can come over anytime. Be obligated to them.
If the youth ministry is not working, find the problem and fix it before its too late. The devil would have us to sit and watch it slowly fall apart. God help us to never give up on our kids without a fight.
And finally, (speaking overall) if their be any praise, or any gain, then give that back to the Lord in thanksgiving. All we are is seed planters, waterers, fertilizers and soil turners. God does the growing. Give Him the credit for the local youth ministry as He helps it to become the best it can be.
And may God give us all the strength we need to be all we can be for Him and to never take this youth position for granted. Because one day, they will not be youth anymore and we'll have to look back and see if our efforts made a difference.