At the church I currently serve we offer a ministry to those who struggle with addiction, codependence and other struggles called Celebrate Recovery. Last January we began to offer the youth arm of this ministry called “The Landing”. As a pastor I love this ministry. Taking the broken, the down trodden and the needy and offering prayer, love and the word of God to them. My heart was overwhelmed at this very raw and rewarding ministry.
As most things, it wasn’t what I thought it would be. It was like herding cats. It was the very definition of stress. However, over the past year we seem to have hit our stride and I have a few things that I can point out that may save you if you ever want to establish a ministry to teens with hurts, habits and hangups.
- THEY ARE THERE FOR SAFETY NOT YOUR PROGRAM
If pushed they will tell you they are grateful for what you are doing but at first they don’t really care what YOU are doing. They are just glad to be able to hang out with like minded students in a safe environment. Many of these students homes are anything but safe. I had to learn to offer plenty of margin in my meeting and to allow students time to hang out and talk with their friends. I had to put my ego in check and realize it’s ok that they were not there to see me.
2. THE GOSPEL IS DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO ACCEPT
Tell a student whose father beats them that God is “Abba”. Talk about the family of God to students who have no healthy concept of family. Talk about respect and spiritual authority when the students have no concept of respecting authority. It makes teaching the word more difficult and it must be done with a gentle spirit and an open heart willing to answer any student needing to push back based on their present circumstances.
3. BE READY TO HAVE YOUR HEART BROKEN
I stopped saying “I have heard everything.”. My heart gets broken anew all the time. Students exposed to sexual abuse from family members. Physical and verbal abuse is just the way of life and that doesn’t even count the neglect. The saddest story was when I had a 15 year old girl miss getting baptized because she got an abortion that weekend.
It can make you feel helpless and disheartened. I have many times shaken my head and cried “what’s the use?!?!” Then I remember Jesus. When my sins came upon him like a wave on the cross, he cried out “My God my God why have you forsaken me!” The pain of sin is real but it is not victorious…Jesus wins.
4. BE CAREFUL
Having an adult care for them is rare and they will love you for it. Sadly sometimes girls don’t know how to show love in a platonic way and so inappropriate feelings, situations and temptations arise. Protect yourself by never being alone with a student. Avoid physical contact. Share with someone in authority immediately if a line has been crossed or even approached.
5. HAVE FUN
A student in this world only knows of fun in the sinful sense. Show them how to have fun without the sin. Play games, watch movies, tell stories…laugh.
The Landing is the hardest ministry I have ever done. However, I just got off the phone with a counselor at school letting me know of one of my students stuck in a bad situation where drugs are in the home. I will pray for her and know that this Sunday there is a safe place where she can come and know that there is a better way.
Sean Rheaume 