What is a "youth worker?"
In the past, a youth worker has been defined as an individual who is hired to oversee youth ministry through building Christ-centered relationships and programming which targets the teenage culture in their local ministry context. But does this give us the manpower we need to reach and equip the millions of students in our nation?
Redefining the Youth Worker
We are experiencing a redefinition of what a youth worker is. We are working in a culture of rapid change and societal shifts. The "professional" youth worker has experienced increased demand to enlarge their particular youth ministry program. They may be staying longer and gaining respect. But, there is a danger of losing sight of the urgency to reach every student with the gospel. And with the economic downturn of the past few years, many churches, for example, are replacing their paid youth pastor with one or more unpaid volunteers.
A Greater Need to Network
And the way in which we network is changing as well. Youth workers have more pressure to perform with fewer resources. However, if the local network is only for professional youth workers, we will never reach all these teenagers. When youth workers think strategically about reaching every student in their community, they see the need for more workers to reach and equip more youth.
Wasn't this the point of Jesus' words in Matthew 9:37-38 when He said, "Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Which brings me back to the inevitable question: Are there others in your community that God sees as youth workers?
Including others as Youth Workers
There may be many overlooked youth workers where you live. The list of people who love God and love youth in your community is almost always longer than most networkers realize! Consder these:
- The volunteer youth worker who works full time to support their youth ministry "habit"
- The students in your community who want to reach their friends with the gospel. We need to encourage students to lead ministry with a caring Christian adult mentor.
- The school teacher who spends all day with teenagers in the classroom
- The school resource officer who wishes she could be more involved in the prevention side of dealing with troubled students
- The car salesman whose heart breaks for teens, but just doesn't have the margin to attend another meeting. However, he prays for students every time he drives by the school or sees a group of kids hanging out somewhere in the community.
- The civic leader who deals with youth vandalism in the city park and feels powerless to do anything about it
- The businessman who deals with corporate problems all day but knows the future is in the hands of his kids
- The mom who has a "way with teenagers" and a great home for gatherings
- The retired person who now has more time available to love and help youth
These people come from all walks of life, yet have a common desire to see the youth in our communities find hope and a future. As Christ followers, we all know the answer to these needs in the community is the found in the strong name of Jesus Christ. But how on earth do we begin to bring these resource people together in the face of the pressures and demands of everyone's schedules?
Giving Them a Voice
We need to widen our understanding of what a youth ministry network does. Networks need to be innovative with ways to close ranks with people in their communities who love God and love kids. This doesn't mean they necessarily need to be around the table physically. But how can we get them involved in the Great Commission mindset of the network?
Putting Them into Action
In Wisconsin, we have seen this in action. We have seen churches unite around events that share Jesus and develop discipleship strategies. In over 30 cities farmers, students, teachers, exterminators, vending repairmen, hair stylists, carpenters, grandmas, grandpas and local church and parachurch youth workers work together to disciple teenagers. It is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ coming together! They are hungry to work together, and often have overcome significant disunity in their communities.
How can you widen the net to reach teenagers in your community? The Interactive exercise below will stimulate your thinking and discussions. Or, if you want, you can connect with a Network coach who can help you through the process.
Widening the Net
As you think about how to involve more people in the youth ministry harvest, consider these questions for discussion with your network or just for your private reflection:
Read Deuteronomy 11:18-20:
"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
A lot of attention is given to this verse as a challenge to parents to impress the Word of God on the hearts of our children. However, a friend recently pointed out to me that the beginning of this prayer is not just directed at parents, but to the whole community of Israel.
- In what ways has your network partnered with "non-traditional, non-vocational" paid and volunteer youth workers in your community?
- If the Holy Spirit brought a revival in your community, would you be ready to disciple 100 students who expressed a desire to grow in faith (or, whatever number you'd consider to be a "bumper crop"?) What would you need to do to be ready for that kind of "harvest"?
- How do you think the term "Christian youth worker" may be defined 20 years from now?
- Do people in your community have a well-defined plan of reaching and equipping youth to be disciple makers?
- Are Christian students in your community invited to speak to youth leaders about how to reach their own peer group?