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Last Login: 8/5/2007 9:21:32 PM
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| | i am a youth leader and i'm only 18. i've been serving in my youth ministry for the past 3 years. although it seemed really short, but i am already all worned out. the passion to serve is not there anymore. dealing with my own sins, i have to juggle with being the 'role-model' to the other youth too. and worst still, being a worship leader, i find it really tough to lead the youth into worship especially with all my problems taht i'm handling. and i realised partly the reason that i'm not on fire for God and in serving is also due to the lack of response from the youth. often i try to fan the fire for God in myself before i try to fan theirs. i find that all these that i'm goin trough makes me a real hypocrite. i've been trying to share this problem with the rest of my youth leader, it never works. sometimes it's just too hard to open up to them... how can i handle this? i'm really fed up.. |
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| | toLovetoDie, I understand where your coming from. Serving in the ministry is hard when your young. This was my first year as VBS Director and I'm 15. My advice to you would to go to the Youth Leaders and have a meeting with them and explain your situation to them. Even go to your Pastor if you have to and talk to Him. You need to take care of yourself and your spiritual life before you worry about the Youth Group. I would also go through eveyone in your Youth Group and choose some responsible teens to help you lead the youth by giving you ideas, helping lead Youth Group, etc. I will PM you to see how everything is going. I'll be praying for you as well. Stay strong in Christ. God Bless, Josh T. in Ohio
 Group's Crocodile Dock VBS 2009  June 15-19, 2009 |
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Last Login: 10/11/2008 1:19:16 PM
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| I hear your pain. Thanks for turning to this forum, I hope we can help.
I am 53, an old youth leader. To me you are a Christian youth who leads by example. Leading kids so close to your age is hard. Taking responsibility for the group is harder still. At this stage in your life you have responsibility enough just being a good kid. School, grades, decisions about your future, college...this is your full time work right now. I recommend pulling away from leadership, just let yourself enjoy being eighteen. It sounds like there are others to cover the leadership areas. Perhaps your heart, the lack of enthusiasm, is trying to tell you something. You can always come back to it later if you feel called by the Spirit.
 http://sundayschoollessonconnection.com/ Help and encouragement for Christian Youth Leaders plus free lesson plans to download. |
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Last Login: 8/28/2007 4:01:55 PM
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| I am thinking of you -- and praying for you. I belong to a church that is primarily focused on youth. Our first ever VBS this year was led by the willingness of a 12 year old young lady, who will certainly go on to greater things.
However -- you are so young, with so much in front of you, not to mention the peer pressure and all the normal challenges of being a teen. And college? ....whew....that's a lot already.
Keep living a good example, but remember that sometimes as leaders, we have to step away to make a space for someone else to lead. Maybe God puts us in leadership roles temporarily so that others can see what it CAN be like. He gives US the opportunity to show -- but also to let others have a turn too!
My church is only 7 years old -- we're WAY out of the realm of "normal" -- and perhaps that's why kids love us. BUT -- even our lead pastor (who is way older than you I'm sure) is taking an 8 week leave (that's two months, if you didn't figure) and that's a long time for a church to be without a "leader". But, she reminded us, in the early days of christianity, the gospel was shared by folks on horseback -- who only made it occasionally to the home "church".
So even God knows it might be time for you to take a little break.
In Him,
Kara Lattimer
Kara E. Lattimer
Children's Team
www.roc.com |
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| | Things can get hard when your tired. I tend to agree with Karen..Maybe it's time to take a vacation, and renew your spirit. Alot of leader in Youth Ministry "burn out" due to not taking the time to take care of themselves. I would suggest to take time in prayer and ask the Lord what He wants your next steps to be. Also, be assured there is nothing wrong with taking time away from the your group. I belong to a youth ministry "support group" and alot of other ministry actually have required time away that usually last for a month or two. I'll be praying for you In God's Love Jeremy |
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Last Login: 10/3/2007 2:19:29 PM
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| | Hi there, I'm a 45 yo mom who works with the kids. Young or old, we all go through the same things, believe me. I agree that you may need a little break for a while, but can i pass on something I've learned as well? When I first started out, about the 1st year, I really believed that it was up to me to get the kids enthused about Children's Church and that it was my fault or lack of spiritual maturity, etc or preparedness that caused the kids to be bored and unresponsive. I blamed myself for the results, or patted myself on the back when things went better. I started out thinking that it was up to me to teach these kids and the most important thing was for them to learn something about God. I'd pray for God to help me all the time to get the message across to them; I prayed for me that I would be a better teacher. Then God spoke to me and told me to pray for them, not me. He told me just to love them. That simple lesson really made a difference. Yes, I still have to be prepared before I get to class, but I've learned that these kids need a lot of love and they need to see that we really care about them. Once they see that you truly love them and you're there because you want to be with them, it makes a huge difference. You'll still have some rough days and you'll still make a mistake now and then and have to repent (don't we all?), but I've come to understand what Peter mean't when he said, "Love covers a multitude of sins". 1 peter 4:8 This works not only in ministry but in family life and church life. If we truly truly love each other, we can blow it now and then and still be excepted and forgiven and keep moving forward. Its when believers become critical and legalistic, etc with themselves and each other that we fall into feelings of inadequacy. (Loser syndrome) We're all inadequate in ourselves. Jesus took care of that on the cross. We're told to love and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. God bless Kim/TM
Kim
Homeschool mom
Sunday School Teacher
Puppet Ministry leader |
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| That is very good to remember and so easy to forget!
In Christ's Service,
JP |
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| | So, tolovetodie, how are you doing today? What Kim said is awesome. I've found it to be true. If you love the kids and pray for them, you're there where God needs you.
http://sundayschoollessonconnection.com/ Help and encouragement for Christian Youth Leaders plus free lesson plans to download. |
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