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August 2002
Help I’m A Youth / Children’s Pastor
(Note the term "Youth Pastor’s" is used throughout)Pray Prayer is essential pray that God will guide you in getting yourself setup and for those he has entrusted to you
Get Connected Put yourself on the various lists out there –
i. YouthSA – a discussion list for those involved in youth work in southern Africa – to become part of this discussion list send a blank email to youthsa-subscribe@egroups.com
ii. YMSA – a contact list for everyone involved in youth ministry in Southern Africa – subscribe by sending a blank email
to ym_sa-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
iii. Get on to Youth Pastor discussion lists – two of these are youthpastor_mcsa-subscribe@yahoogroups.com (send a blank email) and youthpastor@methchurch.org.za (send an email to Graeme Walker gwalker@walk.co.za and ask to be added to the list. Graeme also establishes email addresses for Methodists in the form ????@methchurch.org.za)
iv. Get in touch with your local Youth / Children’s Pastor’s forums & Training groups – Those in (what was the Transvaal) have a interdenominational (predominantly Methodist) Youth/Children’s Pastor Training Forum the coordinator is Andrew Evans (Youth Pastor at Florida Methodist) 011 472 1689
v. Get onto the mailing lists of those Youth & Children’s organizations in your area examples of these are SANSSA, YFC, Scripture Union, Adventure & Beyond, Every Home for Christ, Children’s Ministries Convention, etc
vi. Keep on the lookout for other groups / lists
Chat to your Senior Pastor / Minister & Leadership to find out what is expected of you
Chat to your Youth / Children’s / Young Adults Leadership and find out their vision for the ministry
Pray that God will guide in the direction He wants for the ministry
Communicate with your leaders as often as possible so that everyone knows what is going on in the ministry.
Let your congregation know what you are involved in; this not only lets them know what you do with your time but also helps them get behind your ministry.
Spend some time getting to know what happens in the church (if possible) before taking charge of what takes place in the church.
Find out who fits in where in the church – especially those who report to you & those to whom you report (organograms are wonderful things)
NEVER insult or speak badly of other present / past pastors of the church – this only leads to hurt
If you are taking over from another Youth Pastor, get them to give you a comprehensive list of all youth leaders from at least the last two years, together with comments about them, positions held and suggested future positions.
Get another Youth Pastor to mentor you for your beginning years. The Methodist Church is training experienced Youth Pastors to mentor others.