Peer Ministry Leadership

March 6, 2010 by newpeermin

Youth GROUP OR Youth MINISTRY

One faces inward…

The other faces outward…

There is a huge difference! Youth Group faces inward. It is about forming a club, which is mostly about itself. Youth Ministry faces outward. Youth gather to support each other, while being equipped with ministry skills and an attitude to care for friends, families and the world. Youth Ministry gathers with a sense of mission and purpose that reachs out.

Peer Ministry Leadership provides the foundational, relational, equipping tools you need. If you are only doing youth group, then it is time to begin a ministry that reaches out every day, everywhere, and in every relationship.

December 9, 2009 by newpeermin

Equip • Empower • Allow

Episcopal Youth Leaders in the Diocese of Virginia invited me to join them at Phoebe Needles Center in Callaway, Virginia. The Diocese has only three paid youth ministers in Parishes. Thus the leadership relies heavily on the volunteering adults and a very vibrant faithful core of youth.

One of their issues — maybe too many youth who want to be leaders.

I woke up this morning reflecting on Jesus’ disciples telling Jesus, “There are too many! Should we send them home?” Jesus’ coment? “Feed them.” And so they did. (Loaves and Fishes)

Youth are either leading or they are leaving. We either equip, empower and allow or the demands of others will prioritize kids time away. The church’s job is less about consumer programming, which assumes kids are attracted by more glitz, more gadgetry, with bigger, and better entertainment. Instead the church is about making of meaning, developing purpose, and giving responsibility in ways that kids know they count!

November 29, 2009 by newpeermin

WHAT YOUTH SAY ABOUT PML

* I am not there to solve it for them, but to merely help them through it. –Mallory

* It is extremely hard on a youth minister to deal with everyone’s problems all at once, but now Peer Ministers are equipped with the skills to help out. Many teenagers consult their friends first because it is more comfortable for them to do so opposed to talking to an adult. As Peer Ministers we are able to relate to other’s problems more than anyone else and be able to help them explore their alternatives. –Kari

* One of the most significant things from this training is the leadership ministry in my church and community that I am now involved in. After leading Bible studies, being a leader for youth group and other activities I seek new ways to go into the community to use my leadership skills. –Megan

* I use what I learned not only with my friends and peers, but also with my family and one day my career. –Nicole

* Before going through Peer Ministry training I did not handle conflict well. I had a hard time communication to other people how I was feeling and why I was upset, which usually resulted in an argument and frustration. The Peer Ministry training has taught me not to handle situations like this in a positive and constructive manner. How when I encounter conflict of any kind I am able to successfully use I-messages and other techniques. What I learned are successful and positive ways of mediating conflict and expre3ssing my opinions and ideas. –Jenny

* Before the session on Authority Figures I had trouble talking to my superiors and getting any results. I had always let my emotions get carried away leading straight down the path to getting nothing. After this session I leaned that one cannot talk to authority figures as if they are not in a place of authority because they are. I learned not to insult their judgments and to be courteous while still standing by my own values. –Andrew

* My family and I have started getting along better since I had Peer Ministry Training. Recently my mother and I had a disagreement. Usually that kind of thing turns into a really big fight but this time I put my Peer Ministry skills to use. I listened to what my mom was saying, and tried to understand it. Then I was able to tell her what I thought and why. We ended up compromising. It saved us some hurt feeling and we both got what we wanted. –Christa