My Thoughts on Youth Ministry (Part 1): Why I love Teenagers
12Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. I Tim. 4:12
Why I Love Teenagers
I’ve been hooked up in youth ministry since I was 18 years old, and I just realized that I rarely talk about youth ministry, teenagers, and things along those lines. While youth ministry might be one of the “funnest” or most fun jobs on the planet, I think it’s easy to get caught in the “grind” of youth ministry. It’s easy to forget what it’s like to be a teenager and why you got into youth ministry in the first place.
Last week I got to speak at a youth camp. On the last night I was on top of a mountain staring at 100+ teenagers take communion, worship, and spending time with God. In that moment and throughout the camp, God was constantly reminding me of how much He loves teenagers, how much potential teenagers have, and how much they need God. I want to take a few days and talk youth ministry with you…
Today – I simply want to share with you things I love about teenagers:
- My life was changed as a teenager - I loooveeee seeing young people give their life to God and pursue Him with all their hearts, even in the midst of their struggles. It’s an amazing thing.
- They are real – I have had so many great conversations with teenagers about dating, sex, drugs, drinking, partying, etc. If you’ll be real with them, they’ll be real with you and it can open up some huge doors for God to use you.
- They have so much potential - If there is anything that I think we do anything poorly in youth ministry it’s in realizing the potential of teenagers. They can do unbelievable things if we’ll just empower them and believe in them.
- They have their whole future ahead of them – They have dreams waiting for them to pursue… it’s such a privilege to help guide them along the process!
- They change my life more often than I change theirs - I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with students that have ended up changing my life without even knowing it.
- They’re Crazy!! - How many “dumb” or “crazy” stories do we have from when we were teenagers that ended up being memories we’ll never forget? (I’m not talking about things we regret) – I love hearing all the crazy things students do…and I love creating “crazy” memories with them that they’ll remember when they’re older.
What do you love about teenagers?
Dominique Dejonghe (1)