As Youth Ministers, it’s always easy to get caught up in the difficulties of youth ministry, especially this time of year. And while it’s always important to confront our struggles and challenges, we need to spend just as much time, if not more, counting our joys.
In a spirit of Radiant Joy, here’s a list of things I love about youth ministry:
- Shaving Cream Hair Do’s
- Pizza (Isn’t this a pre-requisite to be a Youth Minister?)
- Teens Kneeling in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Flying monkeys with the Life Teen Logo (Perhaps the best Life Teen toy ever?)
- Choosing retreat theme songs
- Going to the school play or band concert
- Trust Walks
- Bowling Lock-ins
- Seeing a teen in line for Confession on Saturday afternoon
- Mission Trips
- Fall Kick-offs
- When a teen’s heart is transformed by God’s grace
- Listening to a Core Member’s testimony
- High Ropes Courses and Mud Pits (If you don’t know these, you need to bring your teens to Summer Camp)
- Playing basketball during free time on retreats
- When a teen bring his/her parents to Mass
- Going to Freshmen Volleyball games
- Parents saying, “What did you do to my kid” when their teen comes home fired up after a retreat
- Teens getting up early on their Summer Break to come to Daily Mass
- Praying the rosary with middle schoolers
- Sometimes it can be easy to forget, but as youth ministers, we get to be a part of something pretty special. Let’s count our joys
Question: What do you love about Youth Ministry? (Share some of your joys below).
I love when a teen wants to start a bible study and wants you to open the Church so that they can spend time with the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle!
Ariel,
Those are great ones! Thanks for sharing!
I love when a teen gets the point of the night before you even ask for it.
I love when a new teen comes out of their shell and realizes they’re accepted and part of a family.
I love pies in the face..even when your ear end up bleeding.
I love core team bonding, including taco night and baseball games.
I love when a priest says YES to coming to camp and investing the teens’ lives.
Sarah,
Great list! Pies in the face when your ears end up bleeding? Sounds like there’s a good story there…
1. Having keys to the Church (Quiet time with God anytime you want? YES PLEASE!)
2. The Analogies we come up with (Def have 1 for Call of Duty Zombie Hunters for my middle school guys)
3. The moment when the Church Secretary asks me why I am carrying a wooden cross covered in white Christmas light through the Church Offices and being asked why I have a ton of Duct Tape Rolls!
Totally! I always loved the look I got at the grocery store, “Why do you have Red Vines, Lemon Juice, and Shaving Cream?”
I love being a teen in the Life Teen Program (at St. Timothy’s)!! And I love participating in pretty much everything on the list because we have fabulous youth ministers, priest, and parish!!!
Meghan, That is so great! Thank you for sharing. I’m sure your youth minister, priest, and parish appreciate the affirmation. God Bless.
I need all the positives of doing a Lock in retreat. Fuel to convince reluctant parents. Please. Need prayers too.
Ms. Charlie