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refferring to how to relate better to new youth group

I took over youth group 2 months ago. I have been helping for 10 months now. Former youth pastor was called to another church in Florida. I have been experiencing a change in relationship with the youth since I took the role as youth minister. I am not sure what has occured. Maybe I have allowed myself to become to busy, I am not sure. Some say i have seemed irritated with them. I am not seeing it. i do know I am a more serious leader and not as creative and I am still fairly new to a leadership role. Currently my wife and I are the main leaders. I have asked and inquired for leaders but the main ones interested work with our AWANA. Before God called me to lead this group, we helpers. Can anyone give me any helpful insights on any of this?

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3 years ago

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0 Votes Be who GOD created you to be! Take your time and invest in the students. Let them see the real you, the one who is now the leader, not just a helper. You can and need to be more serious and this make take some time for the students to see and realize. They don't need another good buddy, they need a strong leader that will share the truth with them, GOD'S WORD! by Pastor Joe 3 years ago by Pastor Joe 3 years ago
0 Votes I'm actually being re-reminded of what the guys below are saying, too: slow down! Kids don't care if you have everything pulled of perfectly, or even if you plan an event for them once a month. What they REALLY want is to know and feel that you love them and care for them. Plan less and do more with them. Instead of having some way-cool lesson planned out that most of them will probably forget by the next day, have them over to your house/apartment just to watch and movie and talk. Or meet up at a part sometime just to throw a Frisbee around. Make the ministry less formal and more spontaneous. That's how they are with their friendships anyway. by Tim Sch... 3 years ago by Tim Schmoyer 3 years ago
0 Votes I also struggled with this when coming into a new y.min position. My advice is to move slowly and carefully. Seek insight and perspective from others within your church and ministry leadership. Being the main contact is different from a volunteer because of the added responsibility and accountability you now have, but begin to work out the vision and direction God is laying on your heart for the group and share that with your leaders, key students, parents, etc. Realize also the students may still be grieving the loss of their old y.p. Be faithful to the calling God has given you, love your students, and they will see your heart and passion for them. by EGro 3 years ago by EGro 3 years ago
0 Votes Good posts so far. You are you. Don't try to be something you're not. If you are good at teaching, teach. Don't try to measure up to the other YP. You need to find the focus of the ministry. Talk to parents, students, past students, pastor and see where they would like to see the youth ministry. Evaluate what you would like to do with the ministry. Don't forget to talk to God and see where He wants it. You need a focal point. If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it. You're the lead dog and all the others follow you now. by pastor e 3 years ago by pastor e 3 years ago
0 Votes Man I was in the same boat as you. The only difference was, I bought tons of books that dealt with my spiritual walk, youth ministry tips/help, training material for the youth, pain, how to deal with jr. high, and etc. I think in the past three months I read around 30 books to get in the direction that God is wanting me to be. Second, just like the previous post, "SLOW DOWN". View every angle in that ministry from: vision, foundation, your students, your lesson, volunteers, and more. Take time with each student. For the past eight months I've spent time with each student one on one. I've noticed HUGE difference in their faith and walk with Christ. Hang in there! You'll do GREAT!!! by NickD 3 years ago by NickD 3 years ago
0 Votes You are beginning to understand the difference between being an adult leader and being the lead youth pastor. The youth pastor has to be the responsible one, they have to discipline and make rules. As a volunteer, you are more flexible and usually dealing with a single aspect of the ministry rather than the whole thing. I would slow down. Don't take on anything new until you have thought through what you are currently doing. Evaluate each aspect of the ministry by yourself and with students to see what needs to stay or go. Figure out the direction of the ministry. Talk to the students, parents, adult leaders and see what they expect from you. 2 good books, First Two Years by Doug Fields and Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries by Soulshaper 3 years ago by Soulshaper 3 years ago

Votes

Be who GOD created you to be! Take your time and invest in the students. Let them see the real you, the one who is now the leader, not just a helper. You can and need to be more serious and this make take some time for the students to see and realize.

They don't need another good buddy, they need a strong leader that will share the truth with them, GOD'S WORD!

Pastor Joe

3 years ago

Votes

I'm actually being re-reminded of what the guys below are saying, too: slow down! Kids don't care if you have everything pulled of perfectly, or even if you plan an event for them once a month. What they REALLY want is to know and feel that you love them and care for them.

Plan less and do more with them. Instead of having some way-cool lesson planned out that most of them will probably forget by the next day, have them over to your house/apartment just to watch and movie and talk. Or meet up at a part sometime just to throw a Frisbee around. Make the ministry less formal and more spontaneous. That's how they are with their friendships anyway.

Tim Sch...

3 years ago

Votes

I also struggled with this when coming into a new y.min position. My advice is to move slowly and carefully. Seek insight and perspective from others within your church and ministry leadership. Being the main contact is different from a volunteer because of the added responsibility and accountability you now have, but begin to work out the vision and direction God is laying on your heart for the group and share that with your leaders, key students, parents, etc. Realize also the students may still be grieving the loss of their old y.p. Be faithful to the calling God has given you, love your students, and they will see your heart and passion for them.

EGro

3 years ago

Votes

Good posts so far. You are you. Don't try to be something you're not. If you are good at teaching, teach. Don't try to measure up to the other YP. You need to find the focus of the ministry. Talk to parents, students, past students, pastor and see where they would like to see the youth ministry. Evaluate what you would like to do with the ministry. Don't forget to talk to God and see where He wants it. You need a focal point. If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it. You're the lead dog and all the others follow you now.

pastor e

3 years ago

Votes

Man I was in the same boat as you. The only difference was, I bought tons of books that dealt with my spiritual walk, youth ministry tips/help, training material for the youth, pain, how to deal with jr. high, and etc. I think in the past three months I read around 30 books to get in the direction that God is wanting me to be.

Second, just like the previous post, "SLOW DOWN". View every angle in that ministry from: vision, foundation, your students, your lesson, volunteers, and more.

Take time with each student. For the past eight months I've spent time with each student one on one. I've noticed HUGE difference in their faith and walk with Christ.

Hang in there! You'll do GREAT!!!

NickD

3 years ago

Votes

You are beginning to understand the difference between being an adult leader and being the lead youth pastor. The youth pastor has to be the responsible one, they have to discipline and make rules. As a volunteer, you are more flexible and usually dealing with a single aspect of the ministry rather than the whole thing.
I would slow down. Don't take on anything new until you have thought through what you are currently doing. Evaluate each aspect of the ministry by yourself and with students to see what needs to stay or go. Figure out the direction of the ministry. Talk to the students, parents, adult leaders and see what they expect from you. 2 good books, First Two Years by Doug Fields and Sustainable Youth Ministry by Mark DeVries

Soulshaper

3 years ago

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