Youth Ministry Team!

Four years ago when I started as the Youth Minister here at Foster Road, I felt like I had almost no idea what I was doing. Then over the next 12 months I realized I was right.

Then over the next 12 months I worked very hard to figure it out. I went to Youth Minister training courses, attended Youth events, and read lots of books. And one theme kept coming up over and over... you can't do it alone!

So I began to envision a Youth Ministry Team. A team of volunteers that would take on a small portion of the tasks and classes and connections that make-up Youth Ministry. Instead of me trying to do everything and never actually getting it all done, this team would each do small things and hold each other accountable to make sure it gets done. Sounds like a pretty good vision, huh?

Then certain situations began to force the issue. Last summer, I had to take a Wednesday night class and would miss 16 weeks of Youth Group! So James Leonard came along and volunteered to teach the Youth Group while I was gone. We worked out some kinks and he was an awesome change of pace for the teenagers. I had the first member of the Youth Ministry Team. Now what?

So over the past 6 months, the church has been making a definitive effort to get new teachers involved. During this effort, we recognized Rona Ball as a potential teacher for the Junior High class... a class we haven't had for years. She was excited about it and I had yet another person on this Youth Ministry Team. But I still couldn't quite organize it yet...

So then I go to Chicago for a week and realize I need a teacher for the Youth Group since James was busy and I'm gone. Carl Van stepped up to the plate and taught an excellent class. I was excited to hear that the teens enjoyed the class and he enjoyed teaching it. So he decides he could be one of the official "back-up" teachers. Now I had one more Team member.

Over the past few months, Dale Morris has said he wants to be involved in teaching. The hard part was finding which age group he would feel most comfortable in. Finally, with the start of the new Junior High class, Dale decided that was the class. And with that also volunteered to be a part of the Youth Ministry team.

So we have it... 6 members... Vince, Bobbie, James, Rona, CV, and Dale.
So they will each begin playing a role in Youth Ministry in different ways. I'm excited to see what the power of six will accomplish in this Ministry and am even more excited to see how the teenagers will connect with these adults. I thank each sincerely and wish many blessings upon them the teenagers!