Report #10

It has been awhile since my last post and I realize it is way past the end of summer for the other practicum students. For myself, this practicum continues since I am the youth pastor. I apologize for not blogging for the past two weeks. Here is an update on what I have been doing:

Hours:
8/11: Planned youth group events for the year/coordinate fundraisers
8/12-8/13: Popcorn Festival Float
8/15: Spending time with youth at Popcorn Festival
8/16: Led morning worship service (music & announcements)
8/16: Youth Group
8/16-8/20: Spending time with family
8/23: Led morning worship music
8/23: youth group
8/25: office work
8/26: Visited Eastbrook High School for lunch
8/27: Visited Van Buren Elementary for lunch and recess
8/27: Meeting to over community teen center
8/28: Preparing for youth group/events
8/30: Youth Group (I co-preached)


Reflections:

Relationships with the Youth
I cannot believe how fast this summer flew by! After all the preparing and planning, it is right back to school time. I am so grateful for the experiences I have had this summer. Summer has allowed me so much free time to just hang out with the youth. Building bonds and trust with youth is the greatest way to impact your youth ministry. Your youth want to know you and have a lasting friendship with you. I have learned how much impact a youth pastor has in the lives of the youths. The youth listen to us more than their parents yet respect us more than their peers. It is truly a unique relationship. It is truly a high calling and great responsibility.

Growing as a Youth Minister

Personal Growth
A great deal of my insecurities have lessened if not disappeared from this experience. We all have a bit of fear in us, the fear to fail, the fear that we do not have what it takes. Going into this experience I was not sure of my ability to be a youth pastor. I have learned from youth pastors and have been in training to be a minister for the past four years, but I still doubted some of my abilities to lead. One of my biggest struggles this summer was control. I would plan and prepare for events such as fundraisers. At one fundraiser in particular I caught myself getting overly excited as I wanted everything to be perfect and very concerned with how the youth were acting/helping/etc. Perfectionism has no room in fundraising events or youth ministry as long as my need to control. God has shown me that I need to let go of the reigns a bit and have more fun with these experiences.

Professional Growth
I have learned that I cannot do ministry alone. From the very beginning of the summer I realized how much I need youth volunteers, the church, and my husband/ministry partner to do ministry. There is no way I can be a successful youth minister without help. Also, I learned that building relationships with other churches and youth groups is not only beneficial for networking, but the youth benefit from it as well! Lastly, my role as a minister is to encourage my youth workers and youth by giving them a vision and affirming their role in the Body of Christ.

There are so many other stories I could share from this summer that have pruned me into the minister that I am. Through the blessings and the burdens that came about from the ministries this summer, I am thankful for them all. I have gained knowledge that cannot be taught in the classroom but only through the experience of being in the ministry.