For the past year, I have become involved with the teens at my church as God has lead. I first preached on a sunday morning the first time two years ago and then taught the teens a few wednesday nights. Now it's getting more serious, as I had them almost every wednesday this past summer. I treat it more than just a casual lesson, I've spent my time in prayer and feeding them spiritually to the point where I've helped them build an outreach ministry that wasn't there before. The youth hold services at nursing homes now (with me preaching) and desire to do clothing drives and food drives. We'll be doing a soup kitchen at our church in the winter months (jan.) this will be a first time ever for our church in it's entire history. They only discuss doing these things with me, not the normal teacher. But I discuss and arrange these things through our pastor and that teacher/deacon. I do nothing outside their counsel.
I believe they have sort of chosen me as their leader, but my first intention was simply to serve God and revamp a dying church, that had no local outreach. The youth became the receptive ones. I actually am in their class, I'm 22. But I also teach it when available to do so. But now I feel God had chosen me as their leader before they did. This ministry that God created and continues to build and work in, I believe He has given it to me. My goal is to continue on in this work as I'm lead. I never realized I'd be a youth leader. But ultimately the situation has it, they are not in my care all the time. It makes things difficult, but I give thanks for what God arranges.
My first question: I am not a bible college student, I was saved almost 3 years ago and never grew up in a church or christian family. I am the only one. But I feel God leads me to serve. For the time I have served where God has lead. Lately I've been feeling pulled toward a bible college focused on youth ministry. But I want to use this to serve in my church, I do not feel moved to leave the church but continue building up the youth. Would you think it wise to leave for college and return to doing it full-time? Not sure what I'm asking.
Second Question: Is it a wise decision to approach the pastor of my church and speak of going to college to return to be our church's youth pastor? Currently we haven't one. There hasn't been much of a youth ministry at the church until I began teaching and encouraging the teens and working with the missions deacon and the pastor.
Third Question: Should I remove myself (more of a present day question) from their classes as a student and only be there to teach when arranged? I don't want to disconnect with them but I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to evolve away from flip flopping from student to teacher. Not to mention for my own growth.
I know these are kind of broad questions, but any advice is appreciated.
I believe they have sort of chosen me as their leader, but my first intention was simply to serve God and revamp a dying church, that had no local outreach. The youth became the receptive ones. I actually am in their class, I'm 22. But I also teach it when available to do so. But now I feel God had chosen me as their leader before they did. This ministry that God created and continues to build and work in, I believe He has given it to me. My goal is to continue on in this work as I'm lead. I never realized I'd be a youth leader. But ultimately the situation has it, they are not in my care all the time. It makes things difficult, but I give thanks for what God arranges.
My first question: I am not a bible college student, I was saved almost 3 years ago and never grew up in a church or christian family. I am the only one. But I feel God leads me to serve. For the time I have served where God has lead. Lately I've been feeling pulled toward a bible college focused on youth ministry. But I want to use this to serve in my church, I do not feel moved to leave the church but continue building up the youth. Would you think it wise to leave for college and return to doing it full-time? Not sure what I'm asking.
Second Question: Is it a wise decision to approach the pastor of my church and speak of going to college to return to be our church's youth pastor? Currently we haven't one. There hasn't been much of a youth ministry at the church until I began teaching and encouraging the teens and working with the missions deacon and the pastor.
Third Question: Should I remove myself (more of a present day question) from their classes as a student and only be there to teach when arranged? I don't want to disconnect with them but I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to evolve away from flip flopping from student to teacher. Not to mention for my own growth.
I know these are kind of broad questions, but any advice is appreciated.
