Dear Youth Leader

I am writing this to you all because you have chosen to lead young people. It has been a journey of mine teaching the youth in Sabbath School for the past 24 years and it was not always about me impacting them, but also them impacting me. Through Sabbath School and various other programs and activities I have learned a lot about being a youth leader. Although I’m still involved with the youth, I have begun to take steps back and allow other people to lead and I want to share some advice, guidance, and some encouragement to you all if you don’t mind.

When I first started teaching and leading, it was rough. I didn’t know how to teach and I didn’t know how to lead. I questioned my legitimacy to be involved because I didn’t think I was “good enough” to lead and be an example. But looking back I see how God knew where I was supposed to be and how He used me. Hindsight is always easier to see.

God taught me how to be a leader through leading. Somehow I thought I needed to be a leader without blemish first in order to lead. But God showed me that we are all broken clay pots and He can still fill us up with His Spirit in our own brokenness.

There are some things about being a youth leader/teacher that I wanted to share, not because you don’t know these things but more so that I know that I have to share what I have learned and experienced and cannot keep it to myself.

The first thing I wanted to share with you is that many of the young people do not have stability of faith within their own home. The families themselves do not follow God well and oftentimes will contradict biblical teachings in their lives without feeling the need to change. Then they come to church and life goes on. When this happens, young people in the home may start to pick up the same life example.

This is why it is important for you as a youth leader to represent Jesus even more. When young people do not see the representation in their home of Christlike living, it is necessary and a wonderful burden to present to them, through your own life, what Christ desires from us.

Mostly, this will be evident in your outward obedience to God because this is what people see. I’m not suggesting to be whitewashed tombs. Being obedient to God and His commandments is a fruit of our relationship with Him, but as James 1 points out, many times we need a reminder of God’s law and His Word so we can see where we fall short and come back to God…. We are constantly coming back to God if we know what His Word says.

What I have experienced in my years of youth ministry is that the youth are looking for the standard in which they need to follow Jesus. While they must see Jesus as the standard, they oftentimes will look to us first. Mostly, we don’t feel that we could live up to the standard, but God sends his Holy Spirit and through this somehow the kids can see Jesus. It is amazing to see God work through us even when we don’t see it ourselves.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” -James 1:22-25 NIV

Secondly, there are going to be many times where you just want to quit because things are not going as well as you want them to. I just wanted to give up multiple times because I didn’t feel good about myself or I didn’t feel like I was impacting anyone. But through these valleys that I walked through in youth ministry, God sent people in my life to remind me that I am on the path He wants me to be on. Stay the course.

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” -1 Chronicles 16:11 NIV

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” -2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV

Lastly, anger on display is not a fruitful trait to have when leading the youth. There will be many moments where the youth are going to just frustrate the “you-know-what-out-of-you”. But you must learn patience and perseverance. Many of these young people come from homes where anger is uncontrolled. Politics, cancel culture, abuse, etc. has a harmful impact on the world and the home is not immune from this either. As much as the young people might frustrate you, I have found that serving them provides them with respect they will have for you. When we learn to serve one another, we empty ourselves and let God in. 

When we display anger towards the young people, they have a tendency to just clam up. They won’t talk anymore for that moment and maybe not even the next time you all get together. So it is important to look at them and not act towards them out of frustration. We must always look at them as if there is a story in their lives that we do not know anything about. When we view them this way then our approach will be out of compassion instead of anger. 

“Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil.” -Psalms 37:8 NIV

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” -Psalms 86:15 NIV

Part of our Christian walk will have some stumbling, and there will be times you will flop in your teaching and leading. But kids can forgive fairly easily, so forgive yourself, learn from it, and be better next time.

Being thorough in your preparation when leading and programming will subconsciously show the youth that you are serious about your ministry. Carefully preparing and planning whatever you do will help remove any distractions or discombobulation that the youth may see while you are trying to represent Christ. When you are ill-prepared, they see it.

“Our God is a God of order. Everything connected with heaven is in perfect order; subjection and thorough discipline mark the movements of the angelic host.” -EG White, Review & Herald, 1905

Thank you for accepting the call to youth ministry and being a willing instrument in God’s orchestra of His work. In all things, be faithful to Jesus and it will show in your leading and involvement. 

If you have read this far, feel free to share with others who are leading young people.