youth ministry question

[Jaltus-bot]

What makes a good youth ministry worker?

[SpikeSpiegel306]

The ability to keep a group of teenage chemically imbalanced kids in control without being an Overlord type person.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Patience, discipline, love, kindness, encouragement, understanding and enjoying helping youth! You also need to be interesting and fun loving but a Christ-like example.
Well that's what I've found discovered from being a youth leader. Don't know if it helps (may be to general).

[Mr. SmartyPants]

must be

active! dont miss church a lot!

be socialble! talk to lots of people and be everyones friend

and most importantly

have a heart FOR God ^^

[Stephen]

Hmm...a few years back I would not have known what to tell you. But after working under a youth pastor for a while...I learned a few things. One, you need to seriously be able to show these kids love. Many are coming from homes where there is not much love....so don't bring work, personal problems, etc...don't bring that with you when your helping and working with these kids. Two be a good listener, take time to listen to the kids questions...and care enough to seriously respond. And most important of all, be called to do it. If the Lord is not calling you to work with kids....don't force it. But if He is, its really something awesome. One of the best things I have ever been a part of myself.

[Kaligraphic]

What makes a good youth ministry worker? Well, a couple of years ago, I asked an elder about how to be a minister (function, not title), and here's the gist of what I learned from two men I quite respect in the ministry:

The key is staying on your face. Remaining before God, and letting Him work through you. You don't know what to do? Pray, and follow what God tells you. You think you do know what to do? You think you can do it? Well, try it, and it probably won't be nearly as successful as what God would have , because God is smarter than you. The key is putting aside what you thought was a good idea or a bad idea, and putting aside your preconceptions, worries, doubts, and even what you thought you knew about church, and listening to what God has to say.

A ministry may have all sorts of qualifications, caring, knowledgeable leaders, wonderful material - and these are good things to have, don't get me wrong - but its success and efficacy (effectiveness) in the kingdom depends first and foremost on how much it's being led by humans, and how much it's being led by God. Thus, two of the most important things to being a youth minister are 1: being called by God to be one (not necessarily for life, but for the present), and 2: learning to forget about trying with your own strength and ability to be a youth minister, and just doing what God tells you to (it can be a lot harder than it sounds).

[true_noir_chloe]

Hmm...a few years back I would not have known what to tell you. But after working under a youth pastor for a while...I learned a few things. One, you need to seriously be able to show these kids love. Many are coming from homes where there is not much love....so don't bring work, personal problems, etc...don't bring that with you when your helping and working with these kids. Two be a good listener, take time to listen to the kids questions...and care enough to seriously respond. And most important of all, be called to do it. If the Lord is not calling you to work with kids....don't force it. But if He is, its really something awesome. One of the best things I have ever been a part of myself.

I really liked your points, Shatterheart. ^________^ These also apply really well to good parenting - loving, listening, and accepting the blessing/calling.

[That Dude]

Well they already said basically everything that needed to be said. Like having understanding, lots of patience, some crazyness...

The main thing is being sold out for God and loving kids.

You also need to be willing to learn things from people younger than you. Sometimes they have some really good points.

[Ashley]

I would chime in too that you need to learn to walk the difference between being firm and being their friend. It's ok to goof off and be friendly with the kids, but at the same time you have to remember YOU are the adult and the one in charge of their safety. So don't be a Nazi, but don't forget who you are either.

You also need to be a good moral example to them, so don't get too crazy or do stuff you wouldn't let them do---and when I was in training to be a youth leader, this included not talking to a member of the opposite sex alone, even with a door open. Period. As Shatterheart said, really be willing to open up your heart to these kids and learn to love them as Christ loves them. I'd also add be willing to show your own scars; it was my experience that the youth would learn best from me if I was willing to tell them about my less-than-perfect moments and what I learned from them.

I was involved with a youth group all of my junior high and high school years and for a few months after high school I was a leader-in-training; it was one of the most rewarding, fun, spiritually encouraging ministries I have ever been involved in. Truly a wonderful thing if you are called to it.