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Last Login: 2/27/2009 1:53:38 PM
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| My wife and I have four year old twins. We don't take them to every event that we have. For instance recently we had a one day youth retreat that she and the kids stayed home for. We have a Tuesday night Bible study that I don't take my children to simply because I need to be the youth minister during that time. It is very hard for me to give the teens my full attention when my kids are there. Okay, it's impossible. We're trying to find a balance between the two extremes. Just my thoughts. BTW, I'm new here. If any of you post over on YMX I'm Digger there. Thanks!
Dale
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while my wife would bring my boys by the office from time to time I never did actually take them to the office while I was in full time ministry. the pastor didn't mind if I did, I just knew I wouldn't be able to get much done plus I wouldn't have anywhere to put them if an emergency arose of if someone stopped by and needed to talk.
Matt McCage
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Last Login: 10/25/2009 11:18:17 PM
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I would probably not be involved with a Church that told me I could not bring my kids. Churches should be nurturing to the family and sometimes teens need to see an example of a loving family working together.
That being said, you have to be really sensitive to the needs of your group. Our kids go with us quite a bit and are almost always present at weekly meetings. I am fortunate that I have a 12 year old son who is capable of looking after the other two during ministry time.
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Last Login: 11/7/2008 11:39:15 PM
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My youth pastor has two children of his own one is 5 and the other is 1 and a half. I totally agree that they should be able to attend youth events with their father. The only down side of him bring his children is that he can not spend as much time as he wants with the youth kids. We took out high schooler up to hume lake and the pastor brought his wife and 2 kids. Well... he spent most of his time with his wife and kids instead of the youth kids. the youth kids feel cheated out of their time with their pastor. I really believe that pastors should bring their children to certain events but not all.
"Save to Live, Live to Serve"
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I took my son to the office once...didn't get much done that day.....
Matt
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Last Login: 4/24/2009 1:39:51 PM
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tomg2 (11/1/2007)
THe reason I posted this question is because I do have children and I do include them in my ministry. Whenever there is an event or fellowship my wife and children are present. Once a year I take the youth group camping. I have done this for the past ten years. I take my wife and my kids with me. It gives the youth a chance to really connect on an intimate level to my wife and my kids. I am at a new church now and I am being told that this will not happen because they feel it will take away from the youths time to connect with me. I dont agree. They have me all year long at Dnows, youth camp, concerts, evangelism conferences, and amusement park trips. I have always encouraged my youth workers to include their kids also when we have fellowships. Any church that told me I couldn't bring my children to functions would have to be corrected on that situation quickly. If they church told me what they told you then they would either have to change their minds or I'd leave the church. The bottom line is that God created family before he "ministry." My family is more important than a church. Asking the youth minister to not bring his children is like asking a pastor to do the same, it would be absurd to ask a pastor not to include his family and the same goes for a youth minister.
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If I go away to speak at a camp I take them with me.
If it is one of our youth events I don't take them with me for two reasons:
1. I want youth group to be something special to them when they get old enough to get involved.
2. I have seen too many times when students become "babysitters" on youth trips on purpose or not.
If I go away for a few days on a youth event our church allows me to take a few days off with my family when I return, on top of my usual days off. I would rather have time totally devoted to my family than trying to juggle them and the students on a trip.
Andy
Reaching Students to Discover Life in Christ
www.theaddyouthpastor.com
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Last Login: 6/13/2009 10:15:06 PM
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I bring my children along to some of the youth events. They do not sit in on the lessons, but they do go to our Sat. youth services, and recently went along on a 30-Hr.-Famine trip (there were a couple of other kids from the YG that had to eat due to medication, and our group is awesome so no one cared...) They don't go to late night activities, but they do stick around Sundays after church for lunch w/ the group usually , since my husband and I prepare it...
I just use discretion about which events they are allowed to attend! The yg kids love them, and I DO know when to say "nope you're staying home"!
My first responsibility will ALWAYS always be to my family, and I feel that it's very important that they are involved in ministry with me. While I happen to be the one hired as a youth and worship minister, (and trust me - that's something I never thought would happen years ago  , and definitely did change MUCH in our family, as it's been somewhat recent!) we ALL work together on this ministry, and before uprooting our lifestyle and moving our kids here for this position, my husband and I decided to work together on this, as it's the only way we can be effective in both the ministry and family (at least in this specific area and church, and at this time!)
edit: ps - my all caps words are because I'm too lazy to go back and use the italics button... heh
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