In the past couple of months, I have been challenged in ways that I didn’t think would ever be possible. However, that isn’t even the strangest part. The person that has been bringing those challenges my way is what has been the most surprising. As a youth minister, it is easy to fall into complacency within your faith. It’s not something that happens because we want it to, but we can become very wrapped up in ministry. In fact, we can become so immersed with what we are doing for the
Can you imagine re-starting your ministry every three years or maybe even every year because your teens and families change?
It you’re a military youth minister know this reality all too well; families coming and going, volunteers rotating in and out throughout the year and priests relocating just as often. So what does a youth minister do when all elements of your “youth ministry” are changing?
I have been finished with school for a long while, but being in youth ministry my calendar years run in school years. The “New Year” for me is when the teens head back to school and Life Teen and Edge kick off again. Freshman experience what it is like to be in high school, trying their best to fit in and not get lost. Seniors try to enjoy their year as the kings and queens with the added pressure of answering the question of what comes next. And, those of us in youth ministry begin anew trying
I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on how much Youth Ministry has evolved in the past several years. I know some of you reading this have been in ministry far longer than I, while many of you are relatively newer to the ranks. I began as a Core Member in 1991. Suffice to say, the Catholic Youth Ministry landscape has changed dramatically since then.
So at the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, I thought I’d take some of you on a trip back in youth ministry time. Jump in the DeLorean and let’s get to it.
Goal for this Life Night This is our third annual Global Life Night and service project. This year we are focusing on the corporal work of mercy of “giving drink to the thirsty.” This Life Night will give teens an awareness of the lack of clean water to millions of people in the world. Through a “change drive,” the global Life Teen community will raise money to build and maintain four water wells in Africa. Finally, this Life Night will reveal Christ as “living water” for all our needs. About
Goal of this Life Night The goal of this Life Night is to explain that our belief in God demands that we respond in faith. The teens will answer the question “how does my faith change me?” and commit to practical ways they can live their discipleship. About this night Scripture has many examples of people finding themselves in life-changing encounters with God. Each person had a choice to make—stay the same or change. In most cases, the person was so moved that he or she had no choice but to change.
This is the time of year when BIG change happens. It seems as though everywhere you look, you hear of someone graduating, getting married or having a baby. Parishes hear where priests are being assigned. You, yourself, might be considering a change of your own. Change is in the air, it’s healthy and it’s normal. I recently moved and it’s changed more than my job or address; it’s changed all I know and understand. I don’t know about you, but I have never fully embraced change. I am