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Peer Ministry Leadership

Leadership Training

Peer Ministry Leadership

June 19, 2020 by newpeermin

Peer Ministry Leadership is Good Samaritan Leadership

by Lyle Griner

I asked, “How have you been using the skills we are working on?” I had been working with this group of high school youth for several weeks. Silence. I pushed the question further and waited.  

Finally, one girl said, “I don’t think this really counts, but Friday night I went out with a friend. I haven’t seen her for awhile. Her parents are split up, probably getting a divorce, I just thought it would be good to spend some time with her.”

“It counts!” I declared. “That is it!” One by one, each of the youth had illustrations of listening, caring and welcoming.

The real Aha moment hit while driving home that night, “We have all kinds of people doing ministry every day. We just forgot to tell them it counts.” Taking notice of her friend’s situation, her compassion, her taking action… is not that the real front line of ministry. That is leadership!

Recently Peer Ministry became Peer Ministry Leadership.

Adding Leadership is intentional. It is a way of expanding Christian leadership beyond microphones and committees. We assume that Christian leaders are those who speak or sing into microphones, or those elected or appointed to committees and boards. These are roles we see and hear. I am not suggesting they go away; they are important roles and callings. However, the roles of microphone and committee people exist to organize, edify, inspire, and gather all of us so that we may daily live a Good Samaritan style of leadership, those whose acts of kindness really count.

Peer Ministry Leadership, this Good Samaritan kind of leadership, is a lifestyle of caring, welcoming and affirming every neighbor. We believe that all are called to a vocation of loving others, as a response to a loving God, through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Following is a list of outcomes that we wish for every Christian. Don’t read too fast. Digest them slowly.

DESIRED OUTCOMES for Peer Ministry Leaders:

OBSERVANT: Alert to the needs of others

PML is about being able to see the needs of others, whether that is in one’s family, school, community, nation, or globally. Often we become aware when our observation triggers an inner tug, possibly the Holy Spirit prompting us to say a welcoming “Hello.”

TAKES ACTION: Uses skills and confidence, led by a compassionate heart

As needs are recognized, the Peer Minister does not pretend to not see or cross to the other side of the road. Instead the PML follows his or her heart to take action. Action becomes easier as skills for caring and welcoming are practiced. PMLs learn it is better to do something, rather than nothing.

UNLIKELY: Welcomes and cares, while feeling inadequate and unlikely

No excuses are made for being too young, too inexperienced, too busy, unqualified, or even too hurt or wounded from our own life situations. There is no one who has all the confidence, training or qualifications. Where there is a need, it is the person present who gets to be the first to offer welcome or help.

COMES CLOSE: Listens patiently and explores what is the real need

PML is not about fixing someone; it is about coming close, caring enough to hear and letting a person make choices that best fit him or her.

SACRIFICE: Willing to risk group security to give help

Caring and welcoming is not always the popular thing to do… even in the church! Caring and welcoming means accepting and including. This sometimes threatens a group’s norms. Insecure people might make fun of caregivers. Even friends may ask, “Why are you talking to him (or her?)” Be assured, caring is always noted, often admired and always the right thing to do.

CROSSES BARRIERS: Gives help to others, no matter their clique, culture, color or creed

Jesus knew that using a Samaritan in his story would raise eyebrows and even make some listeners angry. Many believed there are no good Samaritans. Caring and welcoming has no barriers, including cliques, race, age, sex, religion or other differences.

SEEKS HELP: Guides others to “innkeepers,” people who can help

Even the Good Samaritan takes the victim to someone who can help. The Good Samaritan is just the bridge to the longterm caregiver, the Innkeeper. We do not have to be everything for a hurting person. We are often the short term connection, needed to get the person to another who can help. Ministry is not meant to be a solo experience. We need the support of others including clergy, counselors, doctors, and trusted, capable adults.

How do we pass these outcomes on to others? They do not come just through reading them, or just from a sermon, or even from a PML training session. They are relational faith skills learned with face to face practice, mentored and modeled, lived in an intentional culture of people caring, welcoming and affirming every day, everywhere and in every relationship.

Filed Under: Blog, LEADERSHIP TIP, Peer Ministry Leadership

February 25, 2017 by newpeermin

Peer Ministry Leadership’s DNA

A few things I love talking about!
YOUTH MINISTRY 
from
PEER MINISTRY LEADERSHIP
PERSPECTIVE

Filed Under: LYLE' MUSINGS, Peer Ministry Leadership, YOUTH MINISTRY Tagged With: Peer Ministry, Speaking

February 12, 2014 by newpeermin

BEST MISSION TRIP EVER


NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED! 

Don’t miss the next article! Sign up for E-News! 

ADAPT AND REPRINT THIS! 

(Add your information. We can be “Co-Writers!”)

by Lyle Griner, National Peer Ministry Director 

Normally I ask you to sign up, pay the deposit, come to informational meetings, attend trainings, raise money, send notes to let you know final fees are due, give you packing lists, contact information, itineraries and all that great stuff. This ultimate trip has none of that. This is your perpetual mission trip. This is the one you are called to every day, everywhere and in every relationship.

You are already on this mission trip. We just forgot to tell you about it. Pause, look around you! What do you see, hear, sense, sometimes pass by, sometimes stop to listen? People! With people, come all the great joys and the great sorrows of life. Notice who is left out. Notice whose family is changing. Notice who is struggling with a relationship. Notice who is being bullied, who struggles with eating disorders, who is hurting in some way?

Who needs you to listen, encourage, acknowledge they exist, guide to a trusting adult, or celebrate their triumph? Whom do you get to love because Christ first loved you? Your ministry is people ministry. Your ministry is caring, welcoming and affirming people. Stop. Look around. Stop worrying so much about what everybody thinks of you. Get outside of yourself. Be different. Dare to make a difference where you are. 

Welcome to your ultimate mission trip! 

Our youth ministry is really a leadership ministry that is about people. You know people! We gather to give you people skills. We gather in order to help you help others. We gather to help you respond to the love of God. We gather to cheer you on. We gather to support you in your ministry, your journey, living that mission trip every day, everywhere and in every relationship.
(Add your own church’s information!)
  • Join us for The Vine every Wednesday night. Our ministry, led by kids to support kids in your ministry with other kids!
  • Join us for this summer’s mission trip. We go away on an adventure of serving in order to be better at caring for the people next to us in school, work, neighborhoods and even in our own families.
  • Join us for Peer Ministry Leadership Camp. It’s the Good Samaritan story, but instead of preaching and teaching it, we give you skills to live it!


(Written by Lyle Griner © 2014  Peer Ministry Leadership.  Permission to reprint granted for local church communications.  I would love to hear how it is used!)

Filed Under: Blog, LYLE' MUSINGS, Peer Ministry Leadership

January 12, 2014 by newpeermin

Leave the Church!

We Want You To Leave the Church!

REPRINT THIS! Make it from you.

 

That’s right. Go! Get out of here! (I can’t believe I just wrote that!) But here is why, “Out of here” is where people are. Our youth ministry is people ministry. Our youth ministry is about our youth learning to care, to welcome and to affirm people every day, everywhere and in every relationship. That is why our church needs you on the sports teams, in the plays, in choir, on dance line and working in the community. The reality is that you are the church, “Out there.”

Jesus has left the building! Jesus made people real by being with people, caring for people wherever he was. Jesus picked people out of the crowd and cared, welcomed and affirmed them. He seemed to hang out with all the wrong people – the lame, blind, forgotten, pushed out; Jesus makes people real, not by waiting for people to come to youth group. Jesus goes and lives in the midst of people.

Our youth ministry is a place where we learn the art of people ministry. When we gather, we support, equip and help you with your ministry, your friends, the people you interact with every day. We have fun. When people like you come, no matter what we do, you always make it fun. We also talk, pray, worship. We help you to help others.

You do what Jesus does. You leave the building to be Good Samaritan leaders. You love because Christ first loved us. (I John 4:19). You go and make people real by taking notice, including, asking questions and listening to life stories. You make people real by making sure they do not get ignored in the crowd. You make people real when you stand up for those who are put down by others. You make people real by affirming their unique gifts and talents. You are with people who are experiencing the great joys and great frustrations of life. Go, get out of here, go make people real. Go, do what Jesus did.
Come here to connect more with Jesus and learn more about people ministry.

(Written by Lyle Griner © 2014  Peer Ministry Leadership.  Permission to reprint granted for local church communications.  I would love to hear how it is used!)


If your youth ministry needs to grow in the art of people ministry, then this is your time to
Bring Peer Ministry Leadership to Your Church.

EMAIL today to learn more! 

Filed Under: Blog, LYLE' MUSINGS, Peer Ministry Leadership

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Peer Ministry Leadership

PML works with all denominations. The theology is Christian, and flows from the Good Samaritan Story, with an emphases on relational caring, welcoming and affirming skills. PML is a good fit for many denominations and adapts well for various settings.
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