Early Adolescent PML
Writing is in process for a five session early adolescent version of Peer Ministry Leadership. The sessions fit well into retreats, confirmation, or youth ministry times. Young youth are very aware of the hurts and needs of those around them. They are hungry to figure out friendships and relationships. This will be a vital experience, that will dovetail with the full PML version presently used by high school and college groups.
Pilots… If you would be interested in being on a guiding team for this project please email me right away. We will carry out several discussions using GoToMeetings. The material will be ready by this fall for use. We will ask for feedback from those who choose to use it.
Wednesday evening speaking engagements!
If you would like Lyle to introduce Peer Ministry Leadership – caring and welcoming ministry for every day, everywhere, in every relationship – to your group, call or email today to schedule.
(612)418-5572 peermin@peerministry.org
Session #1 Hello
Why should I say Hello? What happens after that?
· Hello represents the first action of the Good Samaritan.
· Hello is the beginning of caring for your neighbor. “Going and doing likewise.”
· Hello says I see you. You are worthy of recognition and friendliness.
· Hello opens relational doors.
· Hello crosses dividing lines of culture, cliques, and creeds.
Learning to say hello is a first step of the Christian leadership style we call Good Samaritan Leadership. You never know what the other’s response will be. Learning to be observant and trust the quiet tugs of the Spirit often leads to caring and welcoming ministry.
Session #`2 Human
What does it mean to be human? How do we welcome and include all?
· Human acknowledges that everyone is a creation of God.
· Human sees all people as gifted in various ways, interdependent on one another.
· Human accepts people for who they are, not who others think they should be.
· Human does not divide us into rich/poor, popular/unpopular, able/disabled, in/out, one skin color/another skin color.
· Human welcomes and includes all.
Being God’s creation, human, is reason enough to welcome and include all in our congregation, community, family, schools, and circles of friends. Taking responsibility to welcome and include requires intentional skills and a caring heart.
Session #`3 Hurt
Who is hurting? Left out? Scared? Treated unjustly? Grieving? Bullied?
· Hurt is part of every person’s story.
· Hurt is helped when someone listens.
· Hurt is not equal. What feel hurtful to one person may not to another.
· Hurt includes pain, frustration, loss, tender spots, and many vulnerable feelings.
The injured person in the Good Samaritan story is physically hurt. First aid is needed. But everyone carries scars of some kind. Hurt requires a caring compassion and ability to listen, as if you were in that person’s shoes. Listening allows a person to talk, to tell the story they need to tell, to not be “should-upon” with cheap advice or easy fixes. Listening, in the context of trusted relationships, is genuine ministry, needed by all.
Session # 4 Help
What can I do? Who can I guide people to?
· Help does not come from quick fixes or giving easy advice.
· Help comes by guiding people to those who are qualified to care.
· Help comes from the power of praying with and for a person.
· Help can be offered, but is not always wanted.
God cures; we care. We are not the healer. Even the Samaritan takes the person to an innkeeper. The Samaritan does not need to be it all or do it all for the hurt person. The Samaritan seeks help. Participants learn to trust God in prayer and, when needed, guide the one who is hurt to qualified, trusted resources.
Session # 5 Hands
What are the needs we see? How shall we respond?
· Hands is the symbol for our caring and welcoming acts, our response to the gospel.
· Hands, feet, ears, eyes, and heart become some of the tools through which the Spirit of God works.
· Hands is our way of taking action, responding to the needs we see.
· Hands is our relational and physical service.
We find ourselves in the Good Samaritan story as it says, “Go and do likewise.” All service begins with seeing. PML invites participants to be observant, sense the nudges of the Spirit, see the needs of friends, of people in their school community and beyond. This session encourages the group to consider what needs they see and how they will take action.
