I am the most unlikely youth minister ever. That’s why I take great comfort in this video. I’m not hip (but I do use Twitter), I’m kind of old (though not out of it), I don’t have a “perfectly sculpted soulpatch” and I don’t write songs or play the guitar. I’m just a DRE that sees a need and is willing to step into the breach to fill it. This small group of teens is asking me to be with them and lead them, so I guess I can be the youth minister they actually have.
I don’t know much about youth ministry but I do know how to teach people to pray and grow in relationship with Christ. I’m taking a chance that the kids will respond and this will carry me. The latest youth ministry books are pointing to the end of the non-stop fun, plan your social calendar, all the activities you can handle youth ministry model. They say it’s just not working. Youth ministers are frittering their lives away planning fun activities, keeping the kids engaged and active and they aren’t changing. And, everyone agrees that life-change is why they’re in youth ministry. They report seeing more positive results from prayerful youth ministry models that concentrate on developing the spiritual life of teens instead of their social lives. Of course, I know, there has to be fun in there as well. I like to have fun too!
I want to quote a passage from a book that has become the basis of my ministry philosophy, The Soul of the Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard. It was first published around World War I and the language is a bit old, but the message is still vital today. On establishing youth groups, Chautard writes:
“Take my advice, do not be afraid to aim as high as you possibly can, and you will be astonished at the results. Let me explain: do not merely have, as your ideal, to give the youth a selection of clean amusements that will turn them aside from illicit pleasures and dangerous associations, not simply to give them a Christian varnish, through routine attendance at Mass, or the reception of the Sacraments…Launch out into the deep. Let your ambition be, first of all, the noble one of making a certain number of them, at any cost, take the firm resolution of living as fervent Christians; that is, of making their mental prayer every morning, going to Mass every day, if they can, and doing a little spiritual reading, besides going frequently to Communion and fervently too. Put all your efforts into giving this select group a great love for Jesus Christ…And then stir up in these young men to act upon their companions.”
The heart of any apostolate is to form and grow the inner life in it’s members. There can be no other goal. This is what I aim to do.
I think I’ll blog about my thoughts and my efforts as I go along with this youth ministry thing. Perhaps this will help someone else out there like me who’s struggling to get a youth group going. I hope so. If there’s anyone out there that can help and would like to follow along on this journey, you are welcome. I would appreciate the company of someone who knows the way.
great quote… I’m totally lifting that one and re-using it elsewhere. Thanks
You’re definitely welcome to it!
u201cTake my advice, do not be afraid to aim as high as you possibly can, and you will be astonished at the results. “rnrnHa! This is the gospel truth in my 6th grade class…and probably will be when dealing with “youth” as well. I said this about them a couple of years ago:rnrn”The kids are 11-12 years old, and I was wrong to think I’d have to dumb things down for them. As an age group, I’ve found them to be ready to learn, ready to think, ready to know more about God and Faith. They have an as-yet unjaded view of life, and a natural disposition to take God seriously. They grasp big ideas quickly, adjust to new information, and leap to conclusions in a single bound. Their brains are more nimble than an adult’s brain. They like to be respected as people, not just as children. They will meet high expectations and enjoy doing it. “rnrnBTW, I’ve had 4 of my own children go through youthgroup, and they all tuned out if they felt babied or pandered to.
Thanks for the advice Christian. This gives me more confidence to “launch out into the deep” with these kids! I really appreciate it.
Great video and follow on comments Marc! nnI have worked with adults for the past 12 years, but I was recently asked to lead a workshop for about 30 teens later this month (the week before their confirmation). I have to say I’m a bit nervous. I can talk in front of adults all day; in fact, most times I think they probably want me to shut up. But for some reason the idea of talking to a group of 16-18 year olds has thrown me off my [preparation] game. I’m left wondering, “What the heck am I going to tell these young people?” What makes it even more strange is I have a teenager living under my own roof, so it is not as if I don’t have plenty of practice. Maybe I fear the dreaded “eye roll” this time multiplied by 30.nnIn any event, I just need to see it as another opportunity to trust in the Lord when my own understanding and confidence fails. Thanks for the post!
You know, I’m in the same position! I can talk to adults all day long but the teens sort of get me nervous. I think you’re right, it’s the “eye roll” multiplied over many times that I worry about. I think it’s just a matter of being comfortable with them and knowing what to say. I’m not sure how to relate. I said the same thing about primary grade kids until I had some and now I know exactly how to talk to them. I think it’s funny that you have a teen though and still are nervous. I think maybe you know something I don’t! But yes, in the end it’s another opportunity to trust in the Lord and have confidence in him. Thanks for the comments!
I taught Adult Ed, RCIA, and college-level architecture studio before doing 6th grade, so I know what you mean about kids. One thing I do differently with kids is ask a constant stream of questions to involve them, like so:rnrn”For the LORD will pass through to slay the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to slay you.” What’s a basin?rn rnA big bowl. rnrnYes, about handwashing size. When you kill a lamb like this, all the blood runs into the basin. Then the Hebrews had to spread it on the doorposts with a bunch of hyssop. Hyssop’s a plant; if you tie a bunch of hyssop together it makes a broom or a brush. Question: why did they have to spread the blood on the doorposts? rnrnGod told them to. rnrnWell, yes. But imagine you’re the destroyer, the angel of death, floating over the houses going into each one and killing all the firstborn. Then you fly over a house with blood all over the doorway…what does that tell you? rnrnThat something’s already been killed there! rnrnYes, genius! So what do you do? rnrnGo to the next house? rnrnYes. You pass over the houses where something has already been killed. What is this event called? rnrnThe Passover! rnrnYes! Jewish people still observe the Passover every spring. And tell me, who else in the Bible was able to spare the firstborn by sacrificing a substitute animal? rnrnAbraham! rnrnYes, good. But suppose instead of sprinkling blood, the Israelites just stayed inside and prayed hard…would that work? rnrnNo! rnrnSuppose they didn’t want to mess the doorway up and left the basin full of blood on the porch? rnrnNo! rnrnKilling a calf instead of a lamb? rnrnNo! rnrnRight. For God to help the Israelites, they had to…rnrnhelp themselves? rnrnYes, they had to cooperate with God. Could they cooperate however they wanted to? rnrnNo, the way God wanted them to. rnrnYes, it’s still like that, we have to work with God, to cooperate, his way, not our way.”rnrnThat excerpt’s taken from this class: http://platytera.blogspot.com/2010/10/prince-of-egypt.htmlrnrn
Awesome advice and example Christian! I will use that. Thank you so much!
Wow, Marc! You are so awesome to take this on. Our teens are starving for virtue and that which is greater than themselves. They really want more but don’t know where to find it. There is so much great potential, and it’s being sucked away by constant bombardment of evil from the culture. rnrnIt helps me, as a parent of 2 teens, to know their culture. Get on Facebook with them (i.e. send them a friend request) to get a glimpse of what their world is like. Ask them what kids are watching on tv and watch a few shows (you can do this online, cable, satellite, netflix.) Listen to their music. Play their video games. (You are welcome to come over 🙂 ) Then you’ll see what they (and you as the youth minister) are battling, and you will know (by the Holy Spirit) how to arm them. Finally, avoid “too many words.” Christian above has it right on there! rnrnGod bless you a billion times over for your generosity. It’s so desperately needed. You are in my prayers!
Thanks for the advice Liz! And for the prayers! I appreciate it.
‘Loved the video…cracked me up! Wow, you’re amazing…taking on youth ministry, too! rnrnI am glad the “trend” is away from big-hype youth ministry…it’s exhausting. And for what it’s worth, our youth group has incorporated Lectio Divina about once a month (sometimes followed by Adoration/Confessions)…though we’ve only done it once, I, the other leaders and the pastor were pleasantly surprised by the participation, responses, and insight.rnThanks for sharing all your insights and links…sometimes I feel guilty, gleaning from your time/research so much!
Well, I wouldn’t say I’m amazing. Crazy maybe. 😉 Concerned. It might be safe to say I have a “burden” to see something happen for these kids. nnI LOVE that you’re doing lectio with the kids! Fantastic! That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You have to tell me what you’re doing and how it’s going. Are you doing a group lectio? That’s exactly what I’m thinking of incorporating soon. I’m working them up to it. I really want to get them praying on their own at home too. I can’t wait to hear how it progresses. nnDon’t worry about gleaning! That’s what it’s all about. You can help me by chiming in with inputs and suggestions. Thanks for the comments!