I recently had the opportunity to serve youth leaders who are in their first few years of ministry. This is the second time I’ve served at this conference, and I wrote about it for NNYM. Here is an excerpt. Read the full post on the NNYM blog.
Being a youth leader is difficult. While our love for Jesus and zeal for making teenage disciples got us into our roles, many of us were not quite prepared for the other responsibilities that come with it. I remember having a lot of questions the first time I took students to a retreat, when I started recruiting volunteers, and my first-ever parent meeting. Now, nearly 25 years down the road, I often see other youth leaders around me similarly learning “in real time.”
The truth is, I wouldn’t be where I am today without people who helped, coached and encouraged me over the years. Not only did they teach me how to lead a youth group, but they also ingrained in me the importance of connecting with other youth leaders and being a lifelong learner. In my role as Colorado State Coordinator for NNYM, my job is literally to share that same wisdom with fellow leaders.
I’m also very grateful for organizations like Download Youth Ministry, who have a huge desire to come alongside youth leaders-especially those who are new(er) to the role-and provide great training, encouragement, and networking opportunities. What’s especially fun is that they’ve allowed me to participate in their First Few Years Conference as a table group mentor and workshop leader.
Steve Cullum 