... but I have a good excuse!
We made the move to our new church home this past week, and finally the internet and I are companions once again. The trip was a little rough-car problems- but we got here safe, which is all I can ask for.
Our first service was last night, and I handed out a brief survey to try to get a grasp on where the group is spiritually. These are all good kids, but spiritually they are so far behind it isn't even funny. The past few youth pastors have treated the youth group as their personal playground, so now the teenagers' idea of youth group is simply a place to come and play dodgeball. You can't blame the teens for that- that's what youth group has been for them.
Needless to say, I am going to have to start from scratch with these kids if I am going to change the whole way they look at youth group. Has anyone else out there in blogland had to undo the disservice that a previous minister has done? If you have any tips or ideas, I'm all ears.
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3 comments:
i've had to undo some of the 'disservice' that i have done. i'm at what started as a church plant in a home. i am the first youth pastor in this church. within the past year i've had to face that i need to undo some of the things that i had built in a youth ministry program.
specifically...
more value on relationships...less on program.
more one on one time with adult youthworkers... again, building relationships.
and a few more changes which i won't mention at this point. it's been difficult, because i've had to be transparent and share with the students how i've changed and how i think our youth community needs to change.
brad
ps. we just started a dodgeball league... ;)
I'm glad to hear you're still alive!
We've followed some pretty good youth pastors, we've also followed some youth pastors who had been engaged in criminal activity (seriously). You'll probably never arrive at a new youth group and think, "Wow! That's just what I would have done!"
When making a transition, here are a few things I would suggest:
-- Never speak a bad word about the former youth pastor. To you, he may have been wrong, but to them, he may have been the hero that got them to attend church or led them to Christ. Don't force them to choose between you two.
-- Resist the urge to change everything at once. Keep what was good, and add to it.
-- Expect some resistance at first. Kids who are used to eating a diet of ministry "candy" (game nights) will have a hard time warming up to "meat and potatoes" (discipleship) and especially "vegetables" (accountability). I'm going to agree with Brad and say that relationships are key, especially when making this transition.
Fortunately, I think relationships are where you shine (if I indeed know who you are). I think this transition is going to go great for you because you're giving it careful thought and wanting what's really best for your students.
I'm praying for you Anonymous Nazarene Youth Pastor!
Interesting dilemma. In fact, I thought it would be interesting to bring up the issues you raised to the youth ministry class I teach, and ask what they thought.
Here are their responses:
DO'S
-Build relationships like crazy
-Stick to your guns/Know what you will die for
-Find the positive
-Earn credibility
-Get to know staff
-Cast a vision
-Build trust with parents
DON'T
-Throw out the old
-Bash the guy
-Give up/Compromise
-Kill "sacred cows"
Personally, I would add that if the former youth pastor was really dysfunctional, be watchful for unhealthy patterns or past events in volunteer staff. They may have been wounded along the way.
Thanks for the discussion starter!
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