What do you fell is the most rewarding part of youth ministry?
Dave: It's been awesome to be associated with a ministry that young people really enjoy. They not only show up, they bring their friends, and once they're here, they really engage in the ministry... we rely on the kids to prepare and deliver the message, lead in worship, and lead our small group time. We've also witnessed amazing growth among our young people, which is really apparent in the way they handle conflict, trial and temptation.
Erika: It's hard to pick just one. But If I had to pick just one, I would say watching the spiritual growth of the kids over time, and also watching them move from being in a ministry, that is being a youth group member, to actually doing ministry (teaching, leading worship, praying, etc.). I think that that "Aha" moment if you will is probably the most rewarding part of youth ministry for any youth leader—when students move from believing/understanding to actually doing.
maggie: The rawness of the kids strikes me. Seeing these amazing kids grow and struggle, asking the questions and letting God ruin them for the ordinary. They remind me of the joy of my own salvation. When God answers them, when He shows up and speaks and their response to Him—it spurs me onward.
Describe what your youth "bring to the table" for your church. In other words, why is youth ministry important to your church community?
Dave: I think our youth ministry is modeling discipleship for the rest of our church community. Our youth pastor (Maggie Thompson), a young adult volunteer (Erika Dielman) and I work with the kids to develop their messages for Sunday evenings. On several occasions, the youth have helped each other write their talks. It's incredibly rewarding... and an amazing thing to see a teenager stand up and proclaim the Gospel peer-to-peer for the first time. Also, since Maggie's a worship leader at her church, she's able to work with our musicians.
Erika: I think youth ministry is extremely vital to the church community in that our youth, I feel, truly do set an example as to how the church should be, and will be in the future. They do fulfill, I feel, the obligations set in 1st Timothy 4:12 (set an example for believers in speech, life, love, faith, and purity). They also serve as role models for others in the church in how everyone pitches in to make sure Sunday evening goes well, working together as a team. They teach by doing which is, of course, discipleship, and in doing so help themselves, as well as the congregation fulfill Ephesians 5:1-2 (Therefore be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, living in love as Christ loved us and gave himself for us; a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.).
maggie: It's as intricate a piece of the church as worship or the sermon. Giving the youth a chance to spread their wings and fly a little. Its giving the younger generation a chance to be leaders and disciples to each other. There is a healthy order to a church that has an active youth group—like bootcamp—it's building up the soldiers who will fight side-by-side in the next generations. And it gives the young a chance to own their own relationship, a place where they can't hide behind mom and dad because they're good and they go to church. They become exposed and have to engage Jesus or be seen not doing so.
Do you have an example of a youth who may have gained a relationship with Christ through being in a youth ministry community?
Dave: On October 5th, we had a pretty average-sized group (maybe 20-25) show up. One of our young ladies gave a talk on Rev. 3:20 (Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.), challenging the group to open the door and receive Jesus. By the end of the evening, one high schooler and two middle schoolers prayed to receive Jesus as Lord — and another couple of kids prayed that they could live their lives all for Jesus.
Erika: I think the case in point mentioned above speaks for itself, but having been an active volunteer in youth ministry for almost 8 years now, I have had many opportunities to see kids grow in their faith as a result of being involved in our youth ministry, as well as the others around this town. I think that youth ministry is just one of the many resources that teens can use to grow in their walk with the Lord, and in doing so, can hopefully help and inspire others to do the same.
maggie: I would agree with Dave that the night that we had Alexis challenge the group on Jesus standing at the door of their hearts was powerful. Even those that didn't raise their hands, you could see it on their faces that they felt that Jesus was there with us and changing lives.
Describe for us the desire you all have for the youth in your community? What is your hope for their futures?
Dave: The young people here—like youth everywhere—are under constant bombardment from the evil one. Drugs, alcohol, sex and crime are constant temptations. I also think our six-month long winters are a contributing factor... people get really depressed and bored. Another is divorce... it's rampant up here, and so many of our kids are living among two households. I've also noticed how messed up a lot of the parents are in this area. Maybe I'm naive, and maybe I'm just noticing this since I've been involved with our youth, but it really seems like parents up here enable their kids... even encourage them in horrible ways. Beyond all this, the economy is really bad up here, and there are few career opportunities for our young people — whether they graduate from college or not. It seems when our young people leave Petoskey, one of their goals is to not come back. All this said, my hope for these kids is that they'll head out with a solid relationship with Christ... able to go out and be salt and light in a dark world... able to become virtuous young men and women who will become virtuous husbands and wives, fathers and mothers.
Erika: Like many areas in this country, it is true, our teens do face many difficult issues that really they shouldn't have to deal with, but I've noticed it hasn't stopped them from becoming who God wants, and who they themselves want, to be. I hope that through the teenagers in our youth ministry, the rest of the teenagers in this community will begin to understand what it means to call upon Jesus as Lord and Savior, and that they too will begin a solid walk with him. As to the teens in our ministry, specifically, I hope and pray that their faith is stronger when they leave our ministry, than it was when they began. I hope that they can go out into this dark and fallen world and fill it with light. I hope they become less of themselves, and more of Him, and that they pursue whatever callings they choose to the glory of God. Lastly, I pray that God has, and we have, taught them well, and helped them spiritually grow enough, to feel lead/inspired to fulfill the Great Commission and change this world for the better, one person at a time.
maggie: That is a loaded question, not just for the kids in the youth group but our community as a whole. Though we are in a small town we are full of wounded, broken people, most of whom are the youth who are trying to fit in in both school and home. So many families here look good in their family portrait on the mantle but in reality are very broken. And it's the youth who seem to suffer the most. I hope that in pouring ourselves out, in giving what we can to create a place where ANYONE can feel safe and excepted from the moment they walk in that we will be one more road stop on the way for these "churched" and "unchurched" youth alike to finding Christ in them, the hope of glory. That through simply loving them and pointing them to the one who created, loves and bought them they will have their true identity and callings awakened.
