God's Will...

[Emery7]

Hi there! For the past few weeks, I feel like God is leading me into some sort of ministry. Youth ministry keeps entering my mind while I'm thinking of what I feel God to be telling me. I am in college right now, and am finishing my Freshman year... I have attended 2 colleges so far, the first being a religious affiliated college, and the second just a state University. I didn't feel like I belonged at the first, and I don't feel like I belong at the one I am currently attending. So I am researching other colleges around that are either a Bible College, or like a Bible College. I feel like God is leading me to obtain a degree in some sort of ministry, and I was wondering if someone could help me understand what Youth Ministers do, or Pastoral Ministers... or any other type of ministry out there? It would be greatly appreciated! Also, if anyone knows of colleges that sounds like what I'm looking for, please tell me of those also! I am willing to go anywhere in the country, and if it be God's will, even out of the country. I hope to learn a lot from this thread by the time it's finished! Thank you so much for your time! GOD Bless!!!

~*~Emery7~*~

 

[catch22]

I'll be praying that God will reveal His will to you.

 

[Emery7]

Thank you Catch!! You're very kind! Hope to hear more from you! God Bless!!

 

[Emery7]

Oh yea, Catch, I like your signature! That is very true! Have a wonderfully Blessed evening!

 

[kidsminister]

Hi there! For the past few weeks, I feel like God is leading me into some sort of ministry. Youth ministry keeps entering my mind while I'm thinking of what I feel God to be telling me. I am in college right now, and am finishing my Freshman year... I have attended 2 colleges so far, the first being a religious affiliated college, and the second just a state University. I didn't feel like I belonged at the first, and I don't feel like I belong at the one I am currently attending. So I am researching other colleges around that are either a Bible College, or like a Bible College. I feel like God is leading me to obtain a degree in some sort of ministry, and I was wondering if someone could help me understand what Youth Ministers do, or Pastoral Ministers... or any other type of ministry out there? It would be greatly appreciated! Also, if anyone knows of colleges that sounds like what I'm looking for, please tell me of those also! I am willing to go anywhere in the country, and if it be God's will, even out of the country. I hope to learn a lot from this thread by the time it's finished! Thank you so much for your time! GOD Bless!!!

~*~Emery7~*~

Hi, Emery!

If you want to do youth ministry, my #1 piece of advice would be to find a church, jump in, and do it!! Youth pastors are always looking for good, reliable help in leading their kids.

As far as Bible colleges, it is hard to recommend one when I don't know your denominational affiliation. I work at an Assemblies of God college, and I can PM you and give you the contact information for our admissions department, as well as the youth ministries specialists that could talk to you more about that area...let me know!

P.S. You sound like me - I had a very eclectic high school and college education as well! Maybe you should consider getting a job and doing your youth ministry coursework through correspondence. There are a lot of good ones out there!!

 

[Emery7]

kindsminister ~ Hey there! Thank you for posting in here!!! I appreciate it so much!!! I am actually going to a United Methodist church, but am not certain that is the religion I will be a part of for the rest of my life. I have a friend who goes to a Southern Baptist church, and what he tells me sounds so amazing! I need to pray about what denomination God wants me to be. Then maybe I can better decide which college to attend, and which church's youth group to be involved in! This Sunday though, I was going to ask my Pastor about getting involved in the youth group, and tell him that I believe God is leading me to be a Youth Minister. I am actually not a member of the church yet. I want to become a member of a church when I settle into a place, because right now, I have moved two times in the past year for college. When I find the right college God wants me at, I think then is when I will become a member of a certain church. But when people become members of churches, how do they leave that church if they are to get married and move away?

What if I believe God is leading me to be a Youth Minister, but then later down the road, I find out He wants me to be something else? And what do you mean when you say:

Maybe you should consider getting a job and doing your youth ministry coursework through correspondence. There are a lot of good ones out there!!

Also, what do you do when ministering to the youth? How many times do you see the youth group? What kind of activities do you plan? What do you talk about during your Bible studies? I have so many questions, and I can't wait to continue this conversation so I can ask more, and receive more answers! Thank you so much for taking out the time to write to me! Feel free to PM me any time! Where do you live? I am in Georgia. Well, I hope to hear back soon!! GOD Bless!!!

~*~Emery~*~


PS ~ Check out this website I found: http://www.youthministry.com/

 

[kidsminister]

Hi! I'm in Minnesota - the colleges that would probably fit you best in my area if you're going into youth ministry would be Bethel, Northwestern, or Crown. Check them out online.

As far as how many times per week you would see the kids - Sundays and Wednesdays are your "main" days, but then there are outside activities - bowling, youth conferences/conventions, all-nighters...Ask the kids you're working with what kinds of things they would like to do as a group.

Find out if they're in sports, theatre, dance, etc. - go to their events.

Spend one-on-one time with them (although, in this day and age, it's safer for everyone concerned if it's two-on-two; two kids, two leaders), taking them out for coffee, ice cream, whatever...

Just Google "youth ministry" or "youth ministry resources" and that will give you hours of online material to go through.

To start out, you definitely want to get experience. Don't be discouraged if the youth pastor just has you handing out Bibles or cleaning up messes at first. He or she is testing your commitment level. My good friend is a youth pastor, and she has had so many youth leaders come, flake out, and go, and completely break her kids' hearts, that she is really careful about who she invites to go through the training and be actual youth leaders. Just do it with a smile, prove yourself to be faithful and dedicated, and if you're serious about it, you'll get more responsibility.

Finally, if God is calling you to be a youth pastor, go for it! Don't let anyone talk you out of it. I had two friends talk me out of children's ministry in high school, and it was years before I started seriously pursuing it again. In the meantime, those two friends aren't even serving God anymore!!! Thankfully, God has directed my path so that all my education, training, and experience are totally relevant to children's ministry, and I only have to fill in a few small gaps.

Yes, I am a little passionate about the subject!

P.S. When you become a youth pastor, don't be afraid to take a smaller church or youth group. So many people want the prestige of the big megachurches, but the small ones need people, too!!

 

[Emery7]

I've been receiving information from so many colleges, so I more than likely have received information from all of the colleges you listed!

What do you do when you meet on Wednesdays and Sundays? What times do you typically meet? How do you keep coming up with activities to do with the youth? What age group are you giving ministry to? How do you find out about the different activities to do with them (conferences/conventions, all-nighters)?

I think it's a really good idea to go to their events they have in their life! I definitely think it is important to have a friendship with them! I think they would enjoy learning more when it isn't forced, but fun and exciting and with someone they are very comfortable with!

What do you do in your one-on-one/two-on-two time with them? How do you find another leader to do the two-on-two? When do you do these kinds of activities/meetings? During Wednesday and Sunday, or outside of the "main" days?

I am going to ask my Pastor this Sunday to let me know about the Youth Ministry, and let me know who the Youth Pastor is, so I can try to get involved! If I were to get involved with the Youth ministry and the Pastor, I would definitely give it my all! And if I later found out that it isn't for me, I hope it would be fine if I tried pursuing something else

I definitely think it would be so wonderful to be able to teach today's youth about Jesus!! I believe more youth need to hear about Him and how to live their lives by Him! My goal would be to show them that living by God isn't a set of rules that you must follow, but that it is God's way of life for you, and the wonderful reward is eternal life worshiping our LORD! I think about living for God as living by your heart. God touches your heart, and changes your heart! Ever since I've come to God, my life has been truly blessed, and so very JOYFUL! "Thank you God!" I hope I could help the youth to see just how joyful God makes people who devote their lives to Him! When I think about ministering the youth, I get nervous though!! What if they didn't like me or something? *scared*

Thank you so much for writing me! It's so nice to be able to talk with you! You're giving me tons of insight! I believe I have many more questions to ask! And I thank you for taking time out of your day to help me out, and answer my questions!

Oh yea, and what did you mean by:

Maybe you should consider getting a job and doing your youth ministry coursework through correspondence. There are a lot of good ones out there!!

I hope to hear from you very soon! Thank you so much!! GOD Bless!!!

 

[kidsminister]

Emery -

It definitely sounds like you have a heart and passion for youth ministry!

I am actually a children's ministry director, so a lot of what I do is going to be different than what you want to do. But I'll try...

What you do on Sundays and Wednesdays differs from denomination to denomination. Some, for instance, do confirmation classes mid-week for junior highers. Typically, a Wednesday night youth group consists of games, praise and worship, fellowship, and a sermon. The best way to come up with activity ideas is to jump right in - get involved with a youth group, and maybe ask the youth pastor to mentor you. Otherwise, like I mentioned, there are tons of online resources that will give you ideas for activities/sermons/games/etc. It really depends on the group of kids you are working with!

As far as conferences go, most denominations do some sort of youth conference that they let their churches in on. The A/G (my denomination) does a youth convention each year, along with youth camps that our district sends us info about. Outside of the A/G, there's Acquire the Fire (non-denom), CHIC (Covenant), DC/LA (Youth for Christ, non-denom), TEC (Teens Encounter Christ - Episcopal and Catholic), just to name a few...

Two-on-two time can be done at McDonald's, DQ, coffee shops, whatever you have available in your town! My husband and I are a ministry team, so we typically take the kids out together. If they're discussing a "male-sensitive" issue, he grabs a guy friend or our male youth leader; if it's "female-sensitive," I grab our youth pastor.

There are a lot of Bible schools out there that offer correspondence courses. That is, classes you can take online and/or through the mail. I'm finishing up my last three theology classes through Global University (Berean School of the Bible). It's the Assemblies of God's correspondence program. But I'm sure each denomination has something like that, along with some non-denominational ones. It's a lot cheaper than actually going to college, and I know a few pastors who have done it that way rather than gone into debt when they know they're never going to make enough money in the ministry to pay it off .

Glad I could be of help! It's nice to be able to discuss ministry with someone outside my "circle."

Good luck and God bless you, and please feel free to ask me any more questions you might have!!!

 

[Emery7]

kindsminister

Hey there! First of all, thank you SO much for all of your posts!!! I appreciate it so much!! You're helping me to understand a lot of things! Secondly, I really feel like God is telling me to go for it! I can feel it in my heart! It's almost all that I think about, and when I'm looking at websites for a college to attend, I always look to see if they offer degrees in Youth Ministry! Is there a difference in a Youth Minister, a Youth Pastor, and a Youth Leader? I've never thought about taking correspondance classes! Is it the same as getting a degree from college?

I was just wondering if Youth Ministry is a volunteer job or if there is actual pay involved. Do Youth Ministers typically have to have a second job to help support themselves? I wasn't planning on making TONS of money or anything doing ministry, because that isn't what it is all about, but I also know that money is a huge part of how people live.

This is the first thing that has gotten me fired up (excited) in a long time! I've been thinking and thinking and thinking about what I want to do when I get out of college, and what type of degree I want to get, and when Youth Ministry kept popping into my head, it just made me feel alive. I know that what God will bless me with by doing Youth Ministry is so much better than any dollar could buy... but I live a certain lifestyle with my parents. They have a nice income, they are paying for my college education, no matter where I want to go... When I have kids, I want to be able to send them to college because I have enough money to do so... I want to provide my kids with the best lifestyle I can. I know I would have help from whomever my future husband is, but this was just a thought/concern of mine.



I just prayed about all of this, and I asked God to help me listen to what He wants me to do, and to not let the secular world get in my way of doing His will!

 

[Emery7]

I just got home from church this morning And the service was EXCELLENT!!! I talked with the associate Pastor about getting involved with the Youth Ministry!!! He said I am DEFINITELY welcome to work with them! I am SO excited!!!!! He gave me his number, and he is going to get me in touch with the woman who leads the Youth Ministry!! :SCREAMS WITH EXCITMENT!!!:

Thank you LORD for this opportunity to speak through you to those who need it! Amen!

I've already emailed the associate Pastor, and I'm going to call him either later today, or tomorrow!

The service this morning was about telling it like it is! The Pastor told us his story of coming to God, and he was encouraging us to tell those around us, and help lead those to Christ with our stories! It was so amazing! I have a few people in mind that I know could use God more than ever!! Although, one of the people in my mind doesn't even believe in God... So that is going to be a VERY tough one! But I know with God's help, He will allow His will to be done! Well, I'm going to go, I have a few papers to write for my English class! GOD BLESS EVERYONE!! I hope you have a WONDERFULLY Blessed day!!!

~*~Emery~*~
:Very Thankful:

 

[Premier]

Wow, I just typed up a nice reply to your post but satan had his way with the internet and it was lost. I don't have much time, but I have to let you know a few things. I am a 16 year old male. I am very active in my church's youth group. It is near Birmingham, Al. You can ask me anything about a youth minister because I have been under one for the last 4 years of my life. Here are the most important things to me in a youth minister:

1. Be dedicated to the Lord.

2. Be a friend to all of the youth. All I really want is to have someone I can talk to and recieve spiritual guidance from. Now keep in mind with youth this could mean 3 o clock in the morning phone calls from a crying youth. So it is a 24/7 job.

3. Open your home to the youth group. Just make your home a hang out place if possible. A place where the youth can come whenever they dont know where to go. Just let them know your house is open.

4. Just hang out with them. As a youth, I always just want to go hang out with my christian friends. Be there with them. That is very important. Don't let it be a job where you see them only on wednesdays and sundays. You should be seeing atleast one of them (if not more) a day in some form or fashion. Just let them know you are always there.

And don't worry about running out of things to plan. When you hang out with the group they will let you know what they would like to do. Just ask.

Youth groups usually are made up of students grades 7th-12th.

If you have anymore questions just let me know. I may have forgotten something so just keep in touch with me and I'll let you know what ever I can.

Thanks for letting me share.
-Stuart

 

[kidsminister]

You should be seeing atleast one of them (if not more) a day in some form or fashion.

Hey, Stuart - thanks for sharing! I agree with all of your points except the one above. It is just not possible or realistic to be able to see at least one youth group kid per day!

Don't forget that no matter what type of job a person has, even if it's a ministry job, their family needs to come first. If they are married, they need to take time to just spend with their spouse. If they have kids, they need to be parents first. And last, take it from a children's minister, sometimes we just plain need a break from the demands of our job, or we will burn out be be no good to anyone!!!

 

[Premier]

That is true, I didn't think much about family life and stress and things. Just forget I mentioned that point. But please keep in mind the others, because that is what the youth really need. Well atleast thats what I need, and all of my friends I have talked to about it agree that those are the most important things in a youth's perspective.

 

[kidsminister]

That is true, I didn't think much about family life and stress and things. Just forget I mentioned that point. But please keep in mind the others, because that is what the youth really need. Well atleast thats what I need, and all of my friends I have talked to about it agree that those are the most important things in a youth's perspective.

No problem . I agree with you 100% on the other items!!

Emery,

I'm glad you took the first step and talked to your associate pastor - Congrats on working with the youth group.

As far as the difference between youth pastor, minister, leader, whatever, it really depends on the church. Right now, in the A/G, I am a children's ministry director, because I'm not credentialed. Next year when I get my credentials, I will be a children's pastor. But different churches have different policies.

Depending on the college, it is possible to earn a degree through correspondence. You need to research which ones based on your interest and the requirements of your denomination.

Most youth/children's pastors do not make a ton of money. I actually work full time in addition to my ministry. The youth pastor at our church does not work a second job, but her husband has a really good job and is able to make enough $$ for them to make it. But they are by no means wealthy.

But if you are called by God to minister, you will not be able to imagine doing anything else with your life.

 

[Emery7]

Hey there! Well, I received an email back from the director of student ministries at my church. We're going to have lunch next week so we can talk about me getting involved with the Youth Ministry! I am extremely excited, and I will probably see her this Sunday at church, and talk with her a bit then also! I will DEFINITELY keep you posted on what happens!!

I feel so passionate about doing this!!! I want to put my everything into it! :jumps up and down: I am really interested in the young children, and teenagers. I feel like I can relate to the teenagers, with certain things that I have been through in my life, that I could have God speak through me, teaching them to always turn to God, no matter the situation. To love Him with all of your heart and soul, and all that you are! And with the little kids, I just think it would be so much fun teaching them about God! I am a kid at heart, and I think I could have a lot of fun with them!!

My two closest friends have both told me that they feel like I am showing them how to love God with their entire heart, by just watching me live my life for God. Wow, when they told me that, I was blown away! I'm so thankful that God can use me in that way to help show others how to love Him with their EVERYTHING!! I feel so blessed! And I am very blessed to be living my life with God, and having a loving, nurturing, caring, magnifiscent relationship with God!!! It's so amazing!!! Today, was THE most amazingly BEAUTIFUL day!!! I went outside this afternoon and did my Bible study on a blanket in the grass! I was able to concentrate on God's word so well out there!! It was amazing!

Well, I hope to continue to hear back from anyone and everyone!! GOD Bless!!!

 

[Emery7]

I just got home from church!!! OH MY GOSH!! The most amazing thing happened to me!!! !!! I was sitting with some of my lady friends, and at the end of the service, as I was waiting to talk with the director of student ministries, one of the ladies I was sitting with came up to me and said, "I hear that you're interested in Youth Ministry?" And I said "YES!!!" And she said, "Well, the Youth Pastor at my parents church has actually left. I am filling in right now. They are looking for a full time person to minister, and I was wondering if you'd be interested?" I COMPLETELY FREAKED!!!!!!! I told her that I don't have any experience, and she said that's ok. So we're meeting today at her house at 3:00 or so, and then we're heading over to the church so I can meet the kids, and see if it's for me! I AM SO EXCITED!!!

I believe I've mentioned that I go to a United Methodist Church right now, and if I take that job position, I would be ministering at a Presbyterian Church. Is that ok? Also, what if I become the Youth Pastor, and then I decide to become a member of the United Methodist Church? Is that ok? And then, when I get married, what if I have to move off, and my husband is a different denomination? What does it take to become a Youth Minister in a different denomination? Personally, I feel like denomination doesn't matter, as long as the congregation is worshiping God, and giving thanks to Him, and living as He says, making everyone feel welcome, not discouraging anyone to go to church, but instead INCOURAGING non-believers to come! Well, I hope to hear back very soon from anyone!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

GOD BLESS!!!


~*~Emery~*~
:Very Thankful to My LORD and Savior!!:

 

[Hands&Feet]

That sounds very exciting. Leave no stone unturned. I'm not sure how things work withing the Presbyterian denom. But, UMC will use you wherever you go. I have some good friends who are UMC pastors who have never been to Bible College or Seminary and they are among the most dynamic of all any pastors I've known within Methodism.

But, you have to believe that God will work things out for you. If you go to my website, miraclenews.net, and click on the article called "Worth the Risk," you can read my testimony about receiving God's call into ministry and how unfortunate circumstances caused me to run away from that calling.

God may test your faith, but if you are called, it's not something that is very easy to run away from. The anointing will be with you wherever you go and in whatever you do. But, with my hindsight, I surely wish I had had the faith to persevere and trust God even when going into the ministry seemed an impossibility.

Also check out youthspecialty.com. That is one powerful youth ministry--and funny too.

I'll be praying for you.

 

[Saulball]

Remember to EARNESTLY PRAY to see if this is God's will. I've wanted something so bad before, God let me have it, and it wasn't his will...even though I prayed for it. I learned to pray and follow God.

Be filled with his word and spirit and you will HEAR HIM TELL YOU HIS WILL. Eph. 5:17-18

Make sure not to take a step without his voice telling you. Rember your will Lord, not mine..I want to get involved, but whatever YOU Want...he is the master, we are the servant.

Once you truly find that calling, you will be empowered, and you will KNOW the Lord has spoken to you about fufilling it, and you will be empowered to greatly accomplish the task.

WAIT on the Lord.

 

[belikepaul]

Waht do Youth pastors do? Alot of games, activities, small groups, a nice shoulder to cry on, and love those that hey serve. They help shape young lives to be more like Chjrist and to really grow in thier "Walk with God" I don't know where you live but there are many great and wonderful schools around in California their is one called Biola, witha Grad school Talbolt. My wife is almost finshed at seminary and is about to start youth ministry in the summer.

Ask a youth pastor aboput what they feel that they do. Everyone is different but all pushiong to the same Goal, shaping the youth of today for service tomorrow. I'll pary that The Lord opens the doors you need to follow and closes the door he needs to help make His will known. Remember the looking and searching is the best place to be, it is our weakness that we become strong. John 15: 1-6