GUEST POST: Youth Ministry is About Showing Up

on March 7th, 2010

Youth ministry is more than just showing up once or twice a week during a service. Youth ministry is about investing into the lives of tweens and teens, assuring them you’re there for them and love them. It’s about texting them just to say hi or posting on their wall on Facebook. It’s about walking alongside them as they muddle through the trials and experiences of being a teenager. When you show up on Sunday and Wednesday, yeah, they know you care but it’s when you’re there for the OTHER stuff that really lets them know you’re serious about what you do. It’s being there for the lock-ins, spaghetti fundraisers, mission trips, movie nights, camp, overnight trips and everything else that comprises youth ministry. For me, it’s been at these events that I’ve been able to make the most connections. It’s when you get away from the four walls of the church that you’re able to push beyond the “hi, how are you” and really get to know the them. Seeing them outside the church environment and letting them see you as well – that’s a big part of what youth ministry is about.

And what I’ve learned is that even when they don’t tell you on a regular basis (or ever) “thank you” – it’s not because they don’t think it. In our middle school ministry, we had a message on “5 Thank You’s” and who you would give them to. Two girls handed me a piece of paper, thanking me for being their leader at camp (they had drawn a picture of the remnant of our flag we lovingly named “Nemo” but that’s another story) and another girl thanked me for giving up my time to be with her and my other small group girls. A boy had written a thank you to all of the leaders, thanking us for helping him through “life’s storms” – we all were a little teary eyed at that one. Youth ministry is full of late nights, loud music, crazy events but also kids finding Jesus, knowing they have a safe place to retreat to and leaders who love them. Youth ministry is not for the faint of heart but for those willing to put in the time and effort and you know what? It’s worth every second.

Amber French is a youth worker and blogger – check out her stuff at Food For Thought with a Side of Laughter.


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Comments (2)

Alicia at 4:58pm March 8

Great post! That is exactly how I feel. It’s about building relationships. All the words and rules and instructions for life are great and necessary, but usually don’t mean a thing long term without the relationship foundation that we establish with our youth.

Mark Cox at 9:26am March 9

Great post!