Just posted this new article from a PDYM mentor in Louisiana on the importance of relationships in youth ministry. Good stuff, here’s a clip:

Relationships are the key to life for everyone. For students, relationships are huge.

The need for acceptance and a place to belong is great motivation for students, and meeting that need should be a top priority in student ministry. At times it’s easy to forget about the relationships when you get caught up in running the day-to-day things in student ministry. Events and experiences can be such a big part of the ministry that we can sometimes forget the reason we are having the event in the first place.

Here are some traps I have experienced that caused me to lose focus on the students. I am sure this is not a comprehensive list, but these are the ones that get me the most.

JG