Senior year in high school is a long series of farewells. The last dance, last pep rally, last study hall, last life night, and the list goes on. As a youth minister it can be a sad time. Some teens you have known for years and others for just a short time, but they all have made a difference in your life. When they head off to college in a few months, they will face dangers to their faith and their morals. It is important for them to know that there is someone at home praying for them
In my freshman year of college, I was unaware of the Catholic Newman Center at my university. I thought the only option for spiritual involvement was through Core Team. In high school, I was a peer minister after Confirmation and was being led spiritually while setting an example for the younger teens. When I got to college, I thought being on Core would continue to feed my spiritual needs while I minister to the teens. It was what I had known, so it is what I did. After three years, I realized I needed more.
Graduation season is upon us. You can’t deny it any longer – just look at the stack of graduation party invitations that is sitting on your desk. As a youth minister I have always had a love/hate relationship with this time of year. I love it because it is a time to look back over four years of relationships, ministry and growth. We get to celebrate what God has done in the lives of our teens. I love the opportunity to honor the teens in front of the entire community and have them pray for
Goal for the Life Night: The goal is to affirm and celebrate the seniors in your youth group and to challenge the rest of the group to follow in their footsteps through a heart of a servant. Life Night at a Glance: This night will need to take place in two separate groups, seniors and the rest of the group. This night will be an opportunity to toast and celebrate your graduating seniors while challenging all of the teens to follow in the footsteps of their upper classmen in spreading their passion