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They may not remember what you taught them, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

A good youth ministry program makes a difference in the lives of young people.  It helps the participants to realize that they are good and valuable persons, uniquely special individuals who are dearly loved by God, by us, and by others.  

Creating such a program depends on many interrelated factors

-- key among them are these Eight Be-Attitudes.

BE PREPARED

• Create a meaningful plan (or find one that fits you and your group)

• Visualize each activity, make it happen in your mind

• Know the purpose and desired outcome

• Make note cards for input sessions. Study! Practice!

BE YOURSELF

• Make the material your own

• Think it through, pray about it

• Use your own stories and examples

• Don’t sound like you are reading out of a book

BE ORGANIZED

• Prepare the atmosphere for each activity

• Move smoothly from one activity to the next

• Have all materials ready to distribute

• Give clear directions for games and activities

BE FLEXIBLE

• Be ready to adjust the schedule, the content

• Follow the mood of the group

• Have more material ready than you will need

• Drop an activity rather than rush it

BE OPEN

• Listen, listen, listen – hear the hearts of the young people

• Encourage them to listen to each other

• Accept the person whose ideas you might not agree with

• Gently challenge when needed

BE FIRM

• Be in charge

• Present clear rules and expect compliance

• Maintain order and control

• Do not allow disrespect or rudeness, toward you or each other 

BE HAPPY

• Enjoy the young people

• Accept their nonsense and exuberance

• Appreciate their thoughtfulness and seriousness

• Let them know you love them

BELIEVE

• Believe that God was there before you came, loving each young person

• Believe in God’s grace -- it precedes and accompanies all your efforts

• Believe in the faith and goodness of their families and communities

• Believe in the youth. See them with God’s eyes.

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What you are is God's gift to you; what you become is your gift to God.   One of my favorite moments in working with a group of teens looks something like this. I am in the process of explaining what I mean by the “three levels of motivation.” I have already explained the first level, doing whatever I "wanta" do, and the second level, doing whatever I "hafta" do, and I want the group to understand ...

TAGS     test,  matt,  ocreative

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