Called to Youth Ministry: Response

Marissa! That's awesome!! I wasn't raised in church, either. I started going as a teenager and received my ministry call from God before I graduated from high school. (And I still feel like I don't know enough about the Bible.) :)

God equips us for all that He calls us to - so it's OK if you don't feel ready. I would encourage you like this: more than a calling, ministry is a lifestyle. So whether or not there is already 'youth ministry' going on in your community, your life is ministry. How are you investing in your friendships? How do people see Jesus in your every day life? Ask yourself questions like that -a nd look for opportunities to be a blessing to those around you.

I'm gonna send some of my friends this way to help answer your questions, as well. If you're on Facebook, you can always check out the Simply Youth Ministry page. Lots of youth pastors hanging out there to help and encourage you.

Let me pray with you (and feel free to contact me if I can help!): God, thank you for Marissa. It's always exciting and a little scary to hear something specific from you. I pray that Marissa has courage and boldness as she lives out the purpose you designed just for her. Show her open doors for ministry in her everyday walk - and guide her with Your steady, righteous hand.

In Jesus name - Amen!!

So excited for you Marissa....stay tuned for further comments.

Hey, I've been searching and searching for websites about youth ministry. I'm sixteen and I have received the calling. I wasn't raised in church but chose to go myself when I was about 12. I feel like I dont know enough about the bible but this feeling inside of me just keeps telling to start a ministry now in local places. I don't know how to start. Can someone give me ideas and any information. Thank you! God Bless :)

I concur, Michael, that we are all called to ministry - and sometimes that call comes through a variety of sources. But a personal, individual call by God for a set apart purpose is supported in abundance through scripture (Moses, Noah, Paul, the disciples - to name a few.) I don't think it's narcissistic at all to know and hear God's voice for your life...that's how we all initially come to Christ in the first place. In fact, I think the narcissism comes into play when people believe they have the authority to define whether or not one has truly received a call from God. I also think that it's incredibly short-sighted and one note to believe that education and denomination can do anything more than confirm a call already given by God...however that call is received. Again, in Scripture, it was rarely the called, 'denominationally approved' people who were the most obedient in exercising their calls.

Over the years, I have certainly had people (including my education & denomination) confirm what I believed God was saying to me. But the call had to come to me first...otherwise this is just a job that someone thought I might be a good fit for. For me, ministry is more than that.

One of the tendencies in our culture is "ownership". Though it has helped maintain participation in congregational life to move from "committees" to "ministry" to "teams" the phrase "my ministry" is troublesome and borderline narcissism. I experienced a call to ministry through relationships with friends, youth group sponsors, and ministers that I knew. The call experience was one where others recognized gifts for ministry within me and encouraged me to do the preparation for ministry via college to determine if I thought I had gifts for ministry. There was nothing mystical about it.

Near the end of my seminary education I appeared before the Committee on the Ministry for my denomination. I was required asked to articulate my call to ministry. I spoke of my desire to be ordained and serve children and youth in ordained ministry. I remember being told that the Church needed preaching ministers that are ordained. One member saw no reason why the denomination needed or should ordain someone who would specialize in youth ministry. I argued back, of course, noting that children and youth deserve the best educated minister, ordained by the Church, possible because these early years of development and questioning are vital to a healthy journey in faith, participation in the Church's ministry, and committed follower of Jesus throughout adulthood.

The children and youth in our midst need more than a "professional" kid who just loves Jesus and wants them to do the same. There is more to the practice of Christianity than belief. Everyone, at their baptism, is called to participate in the ministry of the Church. This ministry happened before their baptism and will happen after a person claims the promises of their baptism. Followers of Jesus will do ministry long after I am no longer in this reality. Ministry is not mine, it is something that intentional community does together trusting that God is working in their time and in their lives.

Thanks for this great reminder! Today's post really hit home. I needed to be reminded that I am where I am suppose to be and He will give me what I need to move forward even when my flesh doesn't want to. It is a precious call and I am thankful for it!
Keep up the good work, ya'll!

Blessings,
jane