During the last 12 years of youth ministry, first as a volunteer, then as a part-time preteen director, to now being full time staff, I feel like I have learned a little bit about what works and a lot about what doesn't work. I have put together a Top Ten list. So here goes ...
10. TIME: Students love having time with youth workers! Get the most bang for your buck. Use high school sporting events. You can connect with both junior and senior high students. You not only get to hang with the athletes, but fans (parents), band members, and all of their friends on a neutral turf.
9. LIKE-MINDED ADULTS: Students crave relationships and acceptance from adults that are like-minded of their parents that are NOT their parents. I think back to my own time as a student. It was my uncle that could speak truth into my life. Often times it was almost word for word what my parents said or would have said. Yet, coming from him it just seemed to click with me. I was able to not just hear what was being said...I actually listened.
8. CARE: For yourself! This means mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I know that over the last couple of years since I have begun to run, I have most of my memorable times with God. There have been times that I ran 3 to 4 miles and don't remember running them ...okay, my body does ...however mentally, emotionally, and spiritually I was so connected with God that was all there was. I heard this question one time and it always makes me think. "Can you ever be at your best spiritually, if you are not at your best physically, mentally, and emotionally?"
7. SHUT UP & LISTEN: I have discovered that over the years there are many times that I need to shut up and listen. Awkward silence is called that for a reason, it is meant to be awkward. It isn't always our job to fill it. Students are smart; they usually have the answer to their own questions. It is our job to help them find the answer.
6. LONE RANGER: This one may seem a little obvious and still needs to be here. You are dealing with people, and people are messy. Find a person or a team of people that you can meet with to bounce ideas off of, to be held accountable to, to travel this ministry journey with you. There is a great team of youth pastors and others that passionately love students. I would encourage you to tap into one or all of them. YOU can't do youth ministry alone. It is not about YOU!
5. TOUCH: The invention of the fist bump is a terrific way to connect with those students whose love language is physical touch. I would also suggest lots of high fives and the famous one-armed hug. While doing this, remember there are students who are uncomfortable with invasions of personal space.
4. COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE: In this day of technology, there is absolutely no reason that someone should say, "I didn't know." Utilize text messaging (there are some great websites that will allow you to send group texts), Facebook, Twitter, blogs, webpages, PowerPoint's before service ...and those are just for the students. While parents are indeed catching up to the students in the use of technology, they still appreciate an old-fashioned phone call or post card.
3. TALK: Spend time talking with students one on one, and in small groups. They are craving your attention. They want to feel like they are the only ones in the room, that they are more important than anything else.
2. BOUNDARIES: These must be in place. I have been at the point of working 80 - 100 hours a week. That was not healthy on so many different levels. Now understand me ...there are times that you may need to be there for your students that don't fit into a nice 8:00-5:00 time frame. However, YOU are the one responsible for YOUR marriage and your family. You should never jeopardize them by having an affair with the Church.
1. PRAY: You should start your day and end your day in prayer. That is what this is all about. It has been my experience that there is NO way to answer the call to youth ministry without God's help.
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