Showing Support for Youth Ministry Students
Teenagers today need a lot of support from their elders and the people that they look up to. On a daily basis teenagers are bombarded with hurtful messages and toxic comments from other people. Bullying is an all-time high and a lot of teens are extremely self-conscious about almost everything in their lives. Here are a few ways that you as a youth leader can show your support for your students and how you can encourage your students to show support for one another.
The first thing that you can do to show your youth ministry students support is to verbally encourage them. Maybe during a Bible lesson you are having a group conversation and a shy student participates to a level that they are not accustomed. Acknowledge that they have stepped out of their comfort zone and participated. When you have knowledge that they have stepped out of their comfort zone you are showing support for them and encouraging them to continue to participate into the future. You don’t have to say “nice job” in front of the entire class and put the spotlight on them, but after class and passing you can say something as simple as “thank you for your participation”. A little reaction on your part will go a long way for their action in the future.
Another way to show your support for your youth ministry students is to show up to their extracurricular activities. Maybe one of your students is having an art show at the high school, a great way to show your support for your students is to with the rest of your youth group is to plan a small field trip to the art show. Just being there at the art show and taking time out of your day, shows that your students mean something to you and you are there to support them. You can also take this idea into play if one of your students is playing in a sporting event, gather up the rest of your youth ministry students and attend the game to show your support.
A great way to be proactive in your support for your youth ministry students is to encourage them to participate in various activities and to delegate responsibilities to them. If you are planning an outreach program with your youth ministry, delegating tasks to your students shows that not only do you expect a lot from them, but you trust in them that they will be able to get the job done. Giving your students responsibilities makes them feel part of the group and makes them feel that they are responsible and also capable. When you are delegating responsibilities to your students make sure to fit their strengths and personalities with the roles that you need to be filled. That will not only make them more interested in the responsibilities that you have given them but it will raise the likelihood that they will succeed at the responsibilities that you have delegated.
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