Abingdon Youth

by Chip Borgstadt

The waters of doubt are rising. Fear and uncertainty are rampant in our times. Are you beginning to have any misgivings about your call to youth ministry? Maybe you need to check out your feelings before you try to help youth get in touch with theirs.

Use the following design to explore your feelings about youth, youth ministry, and your interactions with young people as you shape a life-giving ministry.

• Set aside a time when you (as an individual or with others from your leadership team) can get away for at least three hours. Select a comfortable, quiet place with no distractions. Bring some healthful snacks and beverages and your Bible. Take along a notebook or journal and a pen to help you sharpen your thoughts and record them.

• Start your time away with a prayer like this: "God of Compassion, be with us this day as we seek to know you and ourselves in you. Increase our love for you and for those you sent Jesus to save. Help us serve you faithfully. Amen."

• Relax and read Colossians 3:12-17; Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Refer to the passages as you contemplate the questions below. Chew on each question. Try to answer it from the perspective of a close friend or family member who is describing you. Answer it as you might have when you were a teen. Then answer it as if God were asking you the question. After exploring these perspectives, write down what you have learned about yourself. What patterns do you see emerging?

1. What are the greatest challenges youth face?

2. What do youth need from adults?

3. What can youth give back to the community?

4. What things keep youth from being a part of the community?

5. What gifts do you think a youth ministry leader needs?

6. What gifts do you have that can help youth know God?

7. What is the biggest problem you face in working with youth?

8. How might you feel when a youth rejects your offer of friendship?

9. How would you react if a youth’s parents became upset with you or felt threatened by the friendship you’ve developed with their teen?

10. What do you think Jesus would say to you about youth ministry?

After writing your thoughts on these questions, write a three-sentence prayer, talking to God about your involvement in youth ministry.

If you are using these questions with others on your leadership team, find a partner and spend fifteen minutes discussing your responses. Then pray for each other.

If you are using these questions on a personal retreat, talk about your thoughts with another person in youth ministry when you have finished your time alone.

NOTE: Use this design again after several months of youth ministry involvement, and compare your responses. How has God brought depth to your understanding? Give thanks for the many ways you have grown.

I’ve Got Feelings
Which word best describes your reaction to the next planned youth event?
Anxious? Eager? Dread? Joy? Anticipation? Avoidance? Fear? Happiness? Concern? Pleasure? Why?

Who, Me?
Reluctance is often a response to challenging ministries. Remember that Jonah tried to run away. But God is faithful and continues to call us to bring the good news to those who need it most.

Some people come to youth ministry to deal with their own issues. As adults, our responsibility is to build up youth, not ourselves. Is there anything you regret not doing as a youth? Don’t let it get in the way of being an adult for those in your youth ministry.

The number one reason adults are reluctant to get involved in youth ministry is that they fear that the young people won’t like them. Some adults hide that fear by trying to act like teens. But teens want authentic adults who will listen to them, without judging, and like them for who they are.

Where Are You?
There are many ingredients in life-giving youth ministry. Take a few minutes to reflect on these “internal” ingredients for effective ministries with youth:

• What excites or concerns you about getting to know each person in your youth ministry? How do you feel about telling him or her about God’s love shown through Jesus Christ?

• What are your dreams for building connections between youth and adults? What does an ideal faith community look like?

• What circumstances in life frighten you? How do you connect to God during those times?

Noah or Abraham?
When violence threatened the fabric of Noah’s society, he built a place of refuge to preserve those who sought sanctuary from the overwhelming situations around them. Many youth ministry programs focus exclusively on those who come through their doors.

Sin stained relationships in Abraham’s time, too. God threatened to destroy the sinners in Sodom, but Abraham interceded for the righteous who might be there. God agreed to spare the unrighteous to preserve those who were faithful. Some youth ministries intercede to find the faithful in the midst of society’s painful situations. They refuse to give up until the faithful have been found.

Which ministry approach is most like yours? What can you learn from the other one?

Brought to you by your youth ministry colleagues at Cokesbury.