How do I make my youth leader PASSIONATE?!

BryannahDawn

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I am 18 years old. And I have a real heart for the youth at my church. We are starting very small, but we are expanding very quickly. We have a lot of upcoming plans to raise money to paint and carpet our youth building, and start a weekly meeting (other than Sunday school). But I have a slight problem...The only person we have in the position of our leader right now is not very passionate, and does not have much of a vision or a desire to take the youth any farther. He is willing to help, but he is very un-motivated. My parents are the pastors of the church, and I feel like I am being called toward the youth, but I am not quite ready (spiritually or mature enough) to take on that responsibility. My cousin who is 20, and my boyfriend who is 19 and I, have all volunteered to be my uncle's "student youth advisers" since we are the oldest in the youth group anyway, it is a way we can easily reach the younger ones in the youth group. like the newer kids just moving up from the primary class. I have prayed for God to bring in somebody (preferably a young strong christian couple) to be our leaders, but none so far. I realize I must be patient, but I have saw the need and had a heart for the youth very very strongly since I was about 14. I feel like this is out of my hands at the moment. I am in the middle of scheduling a bake sale to raise money for paint/carpet. And my boyfriend is heading off and starting a praise band. Other than pray, what else can we do?
 

MAS0N

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If you can find another youth ministry that embodies the "passion" you want to see in your youth group, invite your leader to go with you and your team to visit the youth ministry.

Go out for dinner as a team afterwards and point out the aspects of the youth ministry that impressed you and that you would like to integrate into your youth group.
 
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heggarty

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I was in a similar situation last year I was19 and our youth pastor was about 28 and would sometimes not turn up, didnt cast vision, didnt really want to be there. Initially I just used to get annoyed all the time and try to undermine him a bit.

I realised however, that this isnt really the way to go about it. God is the one who promotes and demotes so to speak. I just started to try and serve my pastor more, I used to mow his lawn and babysit his kids cause he didnt have much time. Just supported him and loved him and tried to serve him wherever I could. I also used to try and initiate things within the youth group but before I would go ahead with them I would get his approval as he didnt have all that much time he would usually be fine with it.

Anyway about 6 months later he and my senior pastor came up to me and said they would like me to take over the youth group and he thanked me for all my efforts, so from my experience, my advice to you would be to just love on him and continue to serve anyway you can in the ministry and serve your pastor and let God be God. He doesnt wish any should perish, so he will work everything out. And pray as well. :)

Hope that helped, Blessings
 
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Pastor Glenn

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My advice - pray for your youth leader. Only God can stir up the kind of passion needed for ministry. Stay the course, don't create a teen fun club. Keep the spiritual dynamic priority one at all cost.

email me, I'd love to assist.

Contact info on profile
 
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JojotheBeloved

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I am 18 years old. And I have a real heart for the youth at my church.

...The only person we have in the position of our leader right now is not very passionate, and does not have much of a vision or a desire to take the youth any farther. He is willing to help, but he is very un-motivated.

My parents are the pastors of the church, and I feel like I am being called toward the youth, but I am not quite ready (spiritually or mature enough) to take on that responsibility. My cousin who is 20, and my boyfriend who is 19 and I, have all volunteered...

I have prayed for God to bring in somebody (preferably a young strong christian couple) to be our leaders, but none so far.

I have saw the need and had a heart for the youth very very strongly since I was about 14... I am in the middle of scheduling a bake sale to raise money for paint/carpet. And my boyfriend is heading off and starting a praise band. Other than pray, what else can we do?

You may not like my answer, as I have been in a few similar situations and have not liked the answer my mentors and father gave me at the time, but please bear with me.

Maybe God is calling you, your boyfriend, and your cousin to be the new youth leaders. Maybe the lack of somebody being brought in through your prayers combined with the strong (maybe even ever strengthening?) passion God has put in your heart is His answer to you. I can emphathize with your hesitancy - you're busy already - and it's easy to be intimidated (I've decided to make youth ministry my professional occupation and it still intimidates me sometimes, even though I love it!). But it sounds like you have the skills to be a great leader and you already have a built in team to help you - your boyfriend and your cousin - both of whom sound like great leaders themselves. Also you have the pastor (your parents) to mentor you in the position and give you advice on how to lead people and if your parents are anything like mine they'll be super excited to be partnering with you in ministry. If the person who is currently the leader wants to be a part of support staff you could use someone who is dependable (even if they're not that exciting) to help with different tasks and just be a safe person the kids can get to know, and if this person doesn't want to do it anyway but was just obligated than you'll be doing them a favor too by letting them step down from the position. So why aren't you the new youth group leader? ;P Let God's Spirit guide your decisions, but just don't be afraid. Don't miss out on a great opportunity due to fear. God will equip you to do what He calls you to.
 
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Jesusisgood

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With praying for him have you ever considered talking to him? It may do more than you think if he knows it shows. He could have something going on but I think the right thing to do before you find someone else is to talk about it with him. Also too so that if you do find someone else to be youth leader, he won't feel like "what just happened? why are they kicking me out?" kind of feeling. I know a couple who lead children's ministry and the church didn't want them to lead anymore, But instead of doing the right thing and bring the problems before them so they could fix what they are doing wrong or know why they were replaced, the church just told them they didn't want them to lead and they had complaints at the last minute. It REALLY hurt them and it can really cause people (and it did for them too) to not serve or go to church anymore. So I don't say this to at all discourage you from finding someone with more passion because that is what your church needs to grow, BUT I would suggest having somebody maybe your parents or you talk to him about why they might need someone else. :) And of course pray for him and that he will not be hurt or stumble, but grow in maturity in Christ. :)
 
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JojotheBeloved

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With praying for him have you ever considered talking to him? It may do more than you think if he knows it shows. He could have something going on but I think the right thing to do before you find someone else is to talk about it with him. Also too so that if you do find someone else to be youth leader, he won't feel like "what just happened? why are they kicking me out?" kind of feeling. I know a couple who lead children's ministry and the church didn't want them to lead anymore, But instead of doing the right thing and bring the problems before them so they could fix what they are doing wrong or know why they were replaced, the church just told them they didn't want them to lead and they had complaints at the last minute. It REALLY hurt them and it can really cause people (and it did for them too) to not serve or go to church anymore. So I don't say this to at all discourage you from finding someone with more passion because that is what your church needs to grow, BUT I would suggest having somebody maybe your parents or you talk to him about why they might need someone else. :) And of course pray for him and that he will not be hurt or stumble, but grow in maturity in Christ. :)

I wholeheartedly agree with this approach as a first step to effective change! :)
 
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