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YOUTH MINISTRY
Vitamins for Teachers of Youth
by June Hardy Dorsey
The medical community is in constant dialogue about the value and necessity of vitamin supplements in our daily diet. One school of thought says they are absolutely necessary to constitute a complete, wholesome diet because the contemporary North American is too busy to prepare a balanced diet every day of the year. The opposing school says they are definitely harmful and should be avoided. Some medical professionals have opinions between the two extremes and say they are a good idea in certain circumstances.
This article will not clear up your confusion about dietary vitamin supplements. This article does, however, offer dependable consumer information about little-known vitamins that enhance and make the life of teachers of youth relevant, vital and energized. So... read on and don’t forget to take your vitamins.
Vitamin R • Relationships—Relationships are at the heart of our faith experience. God seeks relationship with people and God desires for people to have fellowship (relationships) with one another. A teacher who builds a relationship with the youth in her or his class will offer far more than the content of the sessions. Take time to get to know and accept the youth in your care. Be real with them and allow them to know you. Jesus took time to get to know people. You can do the same and offer young people a lasting gift.
Vitamin T • Training—Corporations call it “R& D” or research and design. The higher education community calls it “continued education.” In the Christian education community it is called, “skills update or teacher training.” Whatever name it goes by, it is the process of acquiring further information and skills to accomplish the task you have been given. For Bible study teachers it is crucial to continue to update information and skills to stay current and motivated for your task. Sources for this “training” are city-wide or associational Christian education training events, periodicals, and on-line support and information. Balance updating your skills with updating your information about the developmental descriptions of the youth with which you work.
Vitamin P-1 • Preparation—You can never be too well-prepared. Contrary to popular practice, propping your teaching guide on the steering wheel and glancing at it at stop lights on your way to church is not adequate preparation. On the other hand, teachers of youth are busy, active people. They do not have hours a day to prepare for Bible study. What is the happy medium? When a new leader’s book arrives, take 15-30 minutes to browse through it from cover to cover. See what topics the units address and peruse the contents. Each week spend 15-30 minutes on Monday to read through the scripture and the session for next week. Plant the ideas in your mind like seeds and throughout the week ask God to give you insight for the learning time. Reflect upon the session content during the week. Later on in the week, gather materials you will need and plan your session in more detail. On Sunday morning when the youth arrive, you’ll be ready for them.
Vitamin P-2 • Prayer—Your ministry with the youth is not confined to whenever your Bible study time is scheduled. When you agree to lead youth, you are agreeing to minister to this significant age group. Your prayer support for these youth is essential for the wholeness of the ministry with them. Make prayer cards from 3x5 note cards for each youth. As you begin your ministry with them, tell them that you will commit to pray for them. Pass around these cards and ask them to write prayer requests on them. Be faithful in honoring your commitment to pray for them. Periodically add to the information on the cards.
Vitamin SN • Spiritual Nourishment for the Leader—We minister to others out of the overflow of God’s ministry in our lives. Do the things you need to be nourished in your spirit. Read the Bible, memorize Scripture, listen to music, or take a hike. Spiritual nourishment doesn’t mean that you are always on a mountain top any more than nourishing food always has to be a gourmet feast. Spiritual nourishment means that you are taking into your spirit the grace of God in the ways that offer growth and health. It is allowing the Spirit of God to interact with your spirit. So... do those things that nourish you and healthy leading!
From Intersection, Teaching Guide for Older Youth: Volume 12, by June Hardy Dorsey.
To order call 1-800-747-3016
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