Adolescence is life’s internship. It’s when people learn about who they really are, where they belong, and where they can effect change in the world around them. Inviting adolescents into a life of discipleship takse place when we come alongside them as they go through that liminal space between childhood and adulthood.
This happens by teaching them what it means to be a Christian, and showing them what it looks like to live faith out. As they are taught about the Bible and theology, as they listen to testimonies from older Christians, and watch mature faith modeled for them by parents and volunteers, they will get a picture of what the Christian life is like.
With that picture in mind, they can then be given opportunities to investigate and interrogate the family of faith they are being invited into. They need to have space where they can ask hard questions and think through the radical implications of the gospel in their own lives. Every person comes to Jesus within the context of their own story, so each person needs to be allowed to let the gospel to transform their life uniquely. An emphasis on questions and discussion allows everyone to bring themselves into the process of discipleship
Faith formation also takes place when we encourage students to articulate (in their own words) what their faith looks like, encounter God through worship and spiritual practices, and live out their faith in mission opportunities. These expressive opportunities help them not just know about God, but know the God who desires to be with and near them.
In short, ministry to adolescents is about giving them a laboratory, not a lecture hall.
The role of the volunteer leader is to model their own life of faith, come alongside students as they grow into the people they are becoming, and create space for students to encounter God and learn to trust Him. Playing high energy games and other stereotypical youth ministry “fun” might be a part of that (for some), but more important is for the adults involved in youth ministry to be willing to come alongside students and listen to them, to authentically share from their own spiritual journey, and and to invite students to bring themselves to Jesus who is faithful to never leave or forsake them.
Youth ministry is an opportunity to pour into teenagers as they go through a pivotal part of their development: the crucible of adolescence. It is not for the faint of heart: it can be tiring and the immediate impact of a volunteers efforts may not always be apparent. But a faithful presence in the life of a teenager will often pay dividends throughout the rest of their lives.
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