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Kyle
Student
Stockton, California
1
Question
Asked
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How is Youth Ministry like ? Do you guys talk to young kids and teens most of the time ?
I want to begin a career in Youth Ministry, but I want to know what it is like to be in the Youth Ministry. #youth-ministry
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2 answers
Ollie Jones
Retired Software Developer
93
Answers
Newburyport
Updated
Ollie’s Answer
I've worked as a minister and as a youth minister.
What's it like? Practically speaking, it takes a lot of planning and organizing. You'll be organizing events for your young people. You may be fortunate enough to organize retreats and camp experiences for them too.
It takes a lot of phone calls, other communication, and patience. You need to keep the young people and their parents informed, and get them to show up and participate. Honestly, getting people to show up can be frustrating: middle- and high- schoolers have a lot of demands on their time, and church activities aren't always #1.
You'll be blitzed with sales pitches for various programs and stuff, from two-week mission trips to Kenya to "youth bibles" to WWJD pins. There are LOTS of businesses, and lots of well-meaning people, trying to make a living selling stuff to people who actually DO youth ministry. Jesus said something about being wise like serpents and innocent like doves. Yeah. When you deal with sales pitches, that's good advice.
If you serve a congregation, you'll probably be supervised by the minister / pastor / priest / rabbi. You need to develop a good relationship with her or him, where you're being supported and taught. Many clergy started out doing youth ministry, so they have experience. If you serve a church camp or other denominational program your supervision will be more consistent, but probably not as spiritual. (Keep in mind that every situation is unique.)
Get somebody else to drive the van.
Be careful about something: men serving with children and young people are automatically suspect these days. Follow the rule of threes: always have at least three people in a room: two adults and one teenager, or two teenagers and one adult. For kids younger than about 14, the rule is always two adults. Always ALWAYS have at least two adults in the building. If you must wait with the last kid to be picked up from some event, wait outside the building on the sidewalk where you and the kid are visible to the public. (Your job may have stricter safe church rules: if so follow them. If your job's rules are not as strict as these, that's a real problem.)
Somebody once asked me "how many souls did you save today?" The honest answer is "I don't know." You never know what word you said or action you did opened somebody's heart. Often they don't know themselves until many years later. Don't measure your success by immediate results.
Brother Paul told his church at Thessalonika to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances." Yeah. Do that. It's good advice, especially when things get tough.
What's it like? Practically speaking, it takes a lot of planning and organizing. You'll be organizing events for your young people. You may be fortunate enough to organize retreats and camp experiences for them too.
It takes a lot of phone calls, other communication, and patience. You need to keep the young people and their parents informed, and get them to show up and participate. Honestly, getting people to show up can be frustrating: middle- and high- schoolers have a lot of demands on their time, and church activities aren't always #1.
You'll be blitzed with sales pitches for various programs and stuff, from two-week mission trips to Kenya to "youth bibles" to WWJD pins. There are LOTS of businesses, and lots of well-meaning people, trying to make a living selling stuff to people who actually DO youth ministry. Jesus said something about being wise like serpents and innocent like doves. Yeah. When you deal with sales pitches, that's good advice.
If you serve a congregation, you'll probably be supervised by the minister / pastor / priest / rabbi. You need to develop a good relationship with her or him, where you're being supported and taught. Many clergy started out doing youth ministry, so they have experience. If you serve a church camp or other denominational program your supervision will be more consistent, but probably not as spiritual. (Keep in mind that every situation is unique.)
Get somebody else to drive the van.
Be careful about something: men serving with children and young people are automatically suspect these days. Follow the rule of threes: always have at least three people in a room: two adults and one teenager, or two teenagers and one adult. For kids younger than about 14, the rule is always two adults. Always ALWAYS have at least two adults in the building. If you must wait with the last kid to be picked up from some event, wait outside the building on the sidewalk where you and the kid are visible to the public. (Your job may have stricter safe church rules: if so follow them. If your job's rules are not as strict as these, that's a real problem.)
Somebody once asked me "how many souls did you save today?" The honest answer is "I don't know." You never know what word you said or action you did opened somebody's heart. Often they don't know themselves until many years later. Don't measure your success by immediate results.
Brother Paul told his church at Thessalonika to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances." Yeah. Do that. It's good advice, especially when things get tough.
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
4848
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Kyle,
Welcome to the World of Youth Ministry
Youth ministry is a vibrant avenue of religious education that zeroes in on the engagement and nurturing of young souls within a faith-based community. It's a blend of diverse activities, programs, and initiatives, all tailored to foster the spiritual growth of children, teenagers, and young adults. Youth ministers play a pivotal role in guiding and mentoring these young minds, providing a supportive environment for them to delve into their faith, ask questions, and cultivate a profound relationship with their beliefs.
The Many Hats of Youth Ministry
In the realm of youth ministry, individuals often step into the shoes of youth pastors, youth leaders, or youth workers. These roles involve direct interaction with young children and teenagers in various settings like churches, schools, camps, and community centers. Here's a glimpse into the common responsibilities in youth ministry:
Spiritual Guidance: Youth ministers offer spiritual guidance to young individuals as they embark on their faith journey.
Teaching and Education: They orchestrate educational sessions, Bible studies, and discussions to help young people comprehend religious teachings.
Mentorship: Serving as mentors, youth ministers provide advice, encouragement, and emotional support to young individuals facing life's challenges.
Community Building: They foster a sense of community among young people through events, retreats, service projects, and social gatherings.
Counseling: Youth ministers may also provide counseling services to help young individuals navigate personal issues or crises from a faith perspective.
Engaging with Young Minds
In youth ministry, the emphasis is on connecting with young children and teenagers. Youth ministers invest considerable time in forging relationships with these individuals through personal conversations, group activities, worship services, retreats, and other age-appropriate events. The aim is to create a secure environment where young people feel at ease expressing themselves and discussing faith-related issues.
Overcoming Hurdles in Youth Ministry
While youth ministry can be a gratifying endeavor for those passionate about guiding young people in a religious context, it's not without its challenges. Some common hurdles include:
Engagement: Ensuring young individuals remain engaged in religious activities can be tough due to competing priorities like academics, extracurricular activities, and social engagements.
Communication: Communicating effectively with young children and teenagers necessitates understanding their unique perspectives, language preferences, and digital interaction styles.
Support: Offering adequate support to cater to the varied needs of young people from diverse backgrounds or dealing with personal struggles can be demanding but is crucial for effective youth ministry.
In Conclusion
Youth ministry presents a dynamic platform to positively influence the lives of young individuals by guiding them through their spiritual journey during key developmental stages. It involves forging relationships with children and teenagers while offering mentorship, education, and support services within a faith-based context.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
The Fuller Youth Institute (FYI): FYI is a research-centric organization that equips youth ministry leaders with resources based on in-depth research on adolescent development.
Youth Specialties: This leading organization empowers youth workers via training events and resources like books & curriculum materials specifically designed for effective youth ministry.
Association of Youth Ministry Educators (AYME): AYME is an association committed to promoting excellence in youth ministry education through networking opportunities & scholarly resources.
These sources have been instrumental in providing insights into the nature of youth ministry work, including best practices for effectively engaging with young children and teenagers within a religious context.
God Bless You,
James C.
Welcome to the World of Youth Ministry
Youth ministry is a vibrant avenue of religious education that zeroes in on the engagement and nurturing of young souls within a faith-based community. It's a blend of diverse activities, programs, and initiatives, all tailored to foster the spiritual growth of children, teenagers, and young adults. Youth ministers play a pivotal role in guiding and mentoring these young minds, providing a supportive environment for them to delve into their faith, ask questions, and cultivate a profound relationship with their beliefs.
The Many Hats of Youth Ministry
In the realm of youth ministry, individuals often step into the shoes of youth pastors, youth leaders, or youth workers. These roles involve direct interaction with young children and teenagers in various settings like churches, schools, camps, and community centers. Here's a glimpse into the common responsibilities in youth ministry:
Spiritual Guidance: Youth ministers offer spiritual guidance to young individuals as they embark on their faith journey.
Teaching and Education: They orchestrate educational sessions, Bible studies, and discussions to help young people comprehend religious teachings.
Mentorship: Serving as mentors, youth ministers provide advice, encouragement, and emotional support to young individuals facing life's challenges.
Community Building: They foster a sense of community among young people through events, retreats, service projects, and social gatherings.
Counseling: Youth ministers may also provide counseling services to help young individuals navigate personal issues or crises from a faith perspective.
Engaging with Young Minds
In youth ministry, the emphasis is on connecting with young children and teenagers. Youth ministers invest considerable time in forging relationships with these individuals through personal conversations, group activities, worship services, retreats, and other age-appropriate events. The aim is to create a secure environment where young people feel at ease expressing themselves and discussing faith-related issues.
Overcoming Hurdles in Youth Ministry
While youth ministry can be a gratifying endeavor for those passionate about guiding young people in a religious context, it's not without its challenges. Some common hurdles include:
Engagement: Ensuring young individuals remain engaged in religious activities can be tough due to competing priorities like academics, extracurricular activities, and social engagements.
Communication: Communicating effectively with young children and teenagers necessitates understanding their unique perspectives, language preferences, and digital interaction styles.
Support: Offering adequate support to cater to the varied needs of young people from diverse backgrounds or dealing with personal struggles can be demanding but is crucial for effective youth ministry.
In Conclusion
Youth ministry presents a dynamic platform to positively influence the lives of young individuals by guiding them through their spiritual journey during key developmental stages. It involves forging relationships with children and teenagers while offering mentorship, education, and support services within a faith-based context.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
The Fuller Youth Institute (FYI): FYI is a research-centric organization that equips youth ministry leaders with resources based on in-depth research on adolescent development.
Youth Specialties: This leading organization empowers youth workers via training events and resources like books & curriculum materials specifically designed for effective youth ministry.
Association of Youth Ministry Educators (AYME): AYME is an association committed to promoting excellence in youth ministry education through networking opportunities & scholarly resources.
These sources have been instrumental in providing insights into the nature of youth ministry work, including best practices for effectively engaging with young children and teenagers within a religious context.
God Bless You,
James C.