Suggestions for youth workers
and youth ministers
Needless to say, it is essential for child protection guidelines and rules to be observed when working with children and young people, whether individually or in groups
Young People and vocation
Young people are constantly asked what they want to do when they grow up, but the question is rarely asked in a Christian context or with ‘vocation’ in mind. Year 11 and year 13 are particular times when young people are thinking about what to do next, so it can be good for the church to address these concerns. Later on, being away at College or University is a time when many young people start to question their own identity and where they are going in life. On leaving college, many young people face hard choices about their future career.
Many young people will not have considered ministry as a career option – we sometimes overplay the ‘vocation’ card so much that people don’t even consider it, whereas actually God calls people in lots of ways, sometimes through the suggestion of others, so don’t be afraid to float the possibility. Furthermore, even young people who have been involved in church or in church youth groups may not have a very positive image of ministry, particularly ordained ministry, and do not consider that they fit with a stereotype of the local ‘vicar’.
Nurturing vocations in young people
Role models are really important with young people, in all sorts of ways. If they can see in their youth leader of parish minister someone that is worth respecting, but at the same time someone accessible, then they are more likely to aspire to follow in their footsteps.
Most young people are encouraged to undertake at least one period of work experience or work shadowing, often in year 11. It would be worth talking to your youth group or even to a local school to offer the possibility of some work experience with the vicar, curate, or other member of the ministry team, if they feel confident about supervising a young person, if appropriate child protection rules can be maintained, and within pastorally appropriate limits. Encourage them to look at the totality of the job, not just the Sunday up-front bit. This needs careful forethought, but can be immensely worthwhile both not just for what the young person can learn, but for what they can teach the minister!
Groups for those who have already experienced some kind of calling to ministry can be very supportive, and have been found to be particularly effective for students who are away from home and missing their usual support networks. Such groups might undertake bible study and discussion on hot topics to do with the church, as well as enjoying fellowship and mutual encouragement on their journey.
Working with individuals
Take vocation seriously – God does speak to children and young people (cf 1 Sam 3). Young people and children are often not taken seriously by adult members of the church, and if they are valued at all, they are valued as ‘the church of the future’ rather than as the church of the present. Help the young person to understand what is happening in the church services – make sure they get a seat where they can see what’s going on, and encourage them to ask questions about what’s taking place behind the scenes.
Facilitate full participation in church life: would your youth group or young person be interested in helping to plan services; taking part in the liturgy as servers; collection takers; in offertory procession etc; as assistants to the sidespersons; presenting dramas in place of readings; giving testimony (if they’re confident); doing readings; leading intercessions; involvement with healing ministry? If they’ve identified a particular gift, try to find an outlet for it, and give positive feedback. Many young people are involved in church primarily through a youth group rather than through attending Sunday services – what scope is there for them to exercise a ministry within this context?
Understand the pressure: young people these days are often under a great deal of stress from exams and course work deadlines, along with increasingly early puberty and peer pressure to conform to certain (often unhealthy) behaviour patterns. It can be very counter-cultural to profess faith in this context, much less talk about wanting to be a vicar! As such, a young person may find it hard to talk about their sense of calling.
Be honest about the faith: even young people who don’t get on with formal education usually have a thirst for learning things they find relevant and interesting – don’t be conned into watering down theology, but concentrate on finding striking images that the young person can relate to, and getting them to express what’s going on in their own words, or in pictures, rather than hoping they’ll fit into a pre-existing pigeon-hole.
Be as honest as you can when you are asked questions about your own experience of calling and ministry, but always reiterate that each person’s experience is different.
Finally, bear in mind that the youngest age at which a person may attend a selection conference for ordained ministry in the Church of England is 18, but many people wait longer, perhaps until they have started (or finished) university, or until they have had some experience of secular work. The Church of England is now actively encouraging younger people to think about ministry, especially ordination, but there are also other possibilities, such as Church Army, Reader ministry, and other specialist lay ministries. There is no hard and fast rule, because everyone is different, but it may be helpful to talk to a vocations advisor before advising a young person on what their next step should be.