Youth Ministry encompasses many different things.  Depending on which web site you visit or magazine you read you are told that you can learn the absolute most important things about youth ministry.  You can discover an array of fun games, movie clips to show for a lead into a Bible study, discussion starters, prayer service, the newest songs with spiritual references and the great ways to decorate space for youth.  All these things enhance a youth program, but the truth is that none of these are the most important thing for ministry with youth.

            The most important thing for a successful youth ministry is a relational ministry.  This is where it can be tricky because relational ministry doesn’t necessarily come with the most charismatic leader or the coolest young adult.  It happens through a mutual building of trust between the youth and the leader.  There is no minimum or maximum age for a youth worker who builds a relational ministry.  Instead there is the fact that the youth worker is there to be present for the youth.  They are the person who will be there every time the youth group meets.  They are the person who listens to the youth as they talk about their hopes, fears, families, friends, schools and other interests.  The relational youth minister meets the parents of the youth building relationships with them. They let the parents know what is happening at youth group and what are the upcoming plans for the group. 

            You’ll know when relational youth ministry happens by the amount of phone calls the leader receives from the youth checking about activities.  You also know it is happening when the youth turn to their youth leader in times of distress and times of happiness.  It is happening when you receive phone calls from concerned parents asking if you can talk to their son or daughter to help them through a difficult situation.  It can also happen when the leader receives an occasional late night phone call, text messages on your day off, or a phone call during lunch from a group of youth at school to tell their youth leader that they love them.  Youth ministry can be all of these things and yet it can be as simple as sitting down with a youth and listening to what they have to say.  They pay is minimal, the hours long, but the youth are a treasure to behold.

snow, snow, snow!

Today as I took a short walk to clear my head from hours of staring at the computer screen, the sky was a clear vivid blue with white clouds painted sporadically throughout the scene.  Over to the west, dark clouds were starting to form, waiting to slowly move through the Spokane area with yet another storm.  This winter has been a challenge for most of the people I know, even those who enjoy winter.  The snowstorms and cabin fever of this winter have tended to create a feeling of restlessness among many who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of sunny warm weather.

One thing that I have noticed this winter is that the youth have had the best attitude about it.  They have embraced the weather, enjoying the winter sports in which they partook.  But this is not a new attitude for the youth I work with.  They approach life with a measure of hope and love of fun.  They look for opportunities to meet people from all walks of life and find new experiences.  Youth are the best teachers!  We need to spend time with them, talk to them, listen to their music, watch their videos and hear their stories.  They have so much to share! Through them we can learn a new appreciation for things we have come to take for granted. 

When we appreciate the gifts the youth offer to us then we can truly connect with them.  We can journey together to learn about our faith and explore unknown spiritual paths to God.