Youth Matter: 3 Tips for Ministering to Young People

“I could never work with teenagers.”

“Teens are scary!”

“I wouldn’t even know how to interact with teens and uni students.”

These are common reactions to invitations to youth ministry. But those of us in the Youth Ministries department of the Greater Sydney Conference know some of the most exciting ministry opportunities our church has today are focused on our young people. And getting involved isn’t just for the brave. Our connection with youth has taught us three concrete tips for genuinely connecting with and mentoring young people.

1. Empathise

It is so important that we connect with our young people and do our best to understand them and the world that they are growing up in. We need to take the time to listen to them and find out where they are at, their needs, and how we can best support and empower them.

2. Focus on building warm relationships

When working with young people, it is vital that we create a space where they feel welcomed, accepted, and seen. They are looking for a place to belong; we need to do our best to create safe places for that to happen.

3. Model key chain leadership

The key to mentoring young people is taking them alongside you, modelling to them, empowering them, equipping them, and then giving them responsibility. As humans, we have a deep desire to find purpose and meaning in our lives, and we have the incredible opportunity to help young people find that through the way we mentor and connect with them.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

Connecting with and mentoring our young people is so crucial to their faith journeys. When we get this right, we ensure the that the church endures for the next generation and that our young people grow into their own personal relationships with Christ. As they learn to be disciples for Him, they learn how to disciple themselves and others.

Sydney Adventist Youth has plenty of resources available for helping churches, youth groups and individuals connect with young people by a running small groups and Bible studies. This includes the World Changers Bible study series. If you are interested in these resources, please get in touch via sydneyadventistyouth@gmail.com.

For information on upcoming youth events, visit our website and follow us on social media: www.sydneyadventistyouth.com/, www.facebook.com/sydneyadventistyouth/, www.instagram.com/sydneyadventistyouth/.