YM part 2: You won't like every kid and every kid won't like you.

Ok so this was ingrained in me at my very first youth ministry job. I was a regional director at a large youth ministry where I had 5 high schools and about 80 kids that were "under my care". We met every other week at a families home in California. The weeks we didn't meet as a full group they met with great small group leaders who loved them and were committed to them. There were a number of student's that I was connected too but there were also a ton that I didn't know very well.

This topic is of particular importance because we as youth workers need to realize that we can't be everything for all students. A huge part of our job needs to be building relationships with outer leaders who can love students and connect with some who we don't connect with. My prayer is always that God would provide amazing leaders for students to connect with and let me lead those leaders.

Read all of this conversation about Youth Ministry.

Part 1. Parents can either be your best friends or worst enemies.

Comments

[Don]

One of my fondest memories when it comes to this is John Bucholtz. I'm not a hard core rocker or a hard core gamer and he is both. And he connected with his boys over those things in ways that had them connected long after they left JH ministry. Also, this is particularly poignant across gender lines. I can't connect with girls the way a female leader can and seriously, I don't WANT to do those things anyway - malls & shopping just ain't my bag.

[jeremy z]

how true is this-- not every kid is going to like you.

i think this is very hard for some youth workers who are really acceptance driven. if they are not liked, then that must equate to me being a bad youth pastor.

we have to be honest. we are all different and with different personalities. some like this and other likes that.

the goal is to get enough adult volunteers that can connect with the kids the youth pastor cannot connect with.