I sing with one of the praise team at our church. We had a Sunday off yesterday. I got to sit in the pew and participate in the worship led by our youth praise team. The group has led worship for youth events but it was their debut in front of the congregation. Thirteen teens were part of the experience yesterday. They had a great sound and were very well received by the worshippers. There was even applause when they finished their last song. The adults present seemed to appreciate the youthful enthusiasm. Many folks went forward and expressed both their support.
Our church has a comprehensive and dynamic youth ministry. We've invested millions in The Edge, our student ministry center, but facilities don't mean a thing unless you have the staff and volunteers to support it. We have been blessed with both. I am especially impressed with the number of adults who volunteer to be part of the ministry. They span the ages and include folks who serve as counselors, Teen CBS small group leaders, musicians who work with the youth praise team and countless others.
In my soon to be released book, Parenting Without Guilt: Avoiding the 7 Things Parents do to Screw-Up Their Kids, I identify not developing a support system as one of the mistakes parents make. Parents need to surround their teens with adults who share their value system and have the well-being of all teens, including their own, on their hearts. When it comes to our church's youth ministry, I especially appreciate the middle age adults, many with grown or college age children who are involved. Who better to mentor young people than those who have experienced life?
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