|
|
|
Junior Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 11:32:46 AM
Posts: 13,
Visits: 7
|
|
In my youth ministry there are a couple dozen teens who are excited about life, friends & God. These people I can relate to because I am passionate about life & the Lord.
There are some teens who are passionate about things other than the Lord. I can relate to their passion but try to steer it to the Lord the best I can.
However, there are a couple dozen teens that I refer to as the zombie teens (refer in my mind & now on this forum). They seem passionless. Like zombies in life. They have no excitement, no drive, nothing that they get too excited about...not even drugs or anything! Some like to stay at home and play video games, alone....not with the youth pastor or anyone else. Some play sports but are even zombies in the sport (different than the sports nuts). It is almost like they are on depressants.
I recently picked up the book "How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse" but that didn't even offer me help.
I talk to these teens, invite them to things, take them to lunch, share the passion of living for Jesus and make a difference for eternity. However, they remain unmoved to do anything.
Do you have any advice for me to help this type of teen or are these simply people I continue to invite, pray for, but don't lose much sleep over?
----
Love God
Love People
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/28/2009 8:57:55 PM
Posts: 1,
Visits: 13
|
|
Dude I definitely know the exact students you are talking about. The one thing I have learned in youth ministry is that reaching students means you need to love them until they feel it. Being consistent in your relation with them will move mountains in their minds. Whether that means saying hi a thousand times before they say hi back or telling them you're stoked they attended youth group last Wednesday. Students want to see through everything you say, meaning that when you say "glad you're here(youth group or youth events)" they want to prove that you actually mean that. Students that sit in the corner and answer everyone of your questions with "sure, fine, whatever" really want your attention. The best thing to do is to call them by name and bring up things you know they like (as weird or non traditional as they seem).
I am a very young youth pastor, but I have seen this technique work in many different instances. One, I have seen students begin to realize that my love for them is real and they come out of their shell(very little, but it's a start!). Two, for the students that seem passionless I have seen them begin to get excited about becoming a disciple of Christ.
Ultimately, it's Christ that will break their passionless demeanor. I believe you should continue praying for these students and invest in them as much as you invest in other students. I know you cannot invest equally in every student. But your consistency to invest in them will communicate your love. I hope this is encouraging my friend.
-much love
-luke
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Expert
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/5/2009 9:54:18 AM
Posts: 318,
Visits: 1,101
|
|
| Oh...I feel your pain!!!!! As the mother of teens, I can tell you that often, when they appear like Zombies, it is b/c they are truly hurting inside....see it in my kids' friends all the time AND in some of my Sunday School kids....what to do...no easy answers... BUT, I can tell you that persistent, gentle, non threatening attention will eventually break thru to most of them. It is HARD...no joke...it can get you down and you may think you are not making a difference...believe me, YOU ARE!!!!!!!!! I learned a long time ago that the kind word you say to that kid today may be the ONLY kind word they hear that week or month....or year! Keep at it...pray for guidance...try to find some common ground...go to their sports events, drop them an email...whatever...just let them know that you are there. Remember that YOU are to them, what Jesus was to those around Him...love them and accept them, the same way that He loves and accepts us... I often see that the zombie teens are the ones who have no adult in their life that engages them...they are not only hurting from this lack of loving involvement, but they actually don't know quite how to respond...YOU can show them and YOU are the one the Lord put there to touch their lives. So...know that you ARE making a difference...you may never see the FRUIT of your effort, but it is there and they will always remember that SOMEONE cared about them...even when they may not have even cared about themselves. BLESSINGS TO YOU in this very challenging work! Kimberly
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Guru
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 7:13:05 PM
Posts: 68,
Visits: 218
|
|
Dear Jeff:
I was one of those teens (many years ago). I am still very calm and even-keeled (good skill for youth ministry). The one thing that helped me was understanding my value to God. I am His son. Wow. Social interaction can be very uncomfortable for a teen who has been convinced of lower self worth. They are just reacting to their environment in a way that works for them.
People are not all the same. Don't worry. While I do not raise my hands or dance during worship, nor display frenetic excitement at events I am an effective youth leader and a great dad. I reach those kids by valuing them.
I did a lesson where I weighed the kids and calculated their value as if they were gold (much fine gold), then transferred that to the bible verses that talked about how God values us. Keep up the good work.
|
|
|
|