by Samuel W. Connelly

Created on: May 04, 2008

There is without doubt more than enough reasons to start a youth ministry, than one could contain in a thick book. The youth today have more opportunities to stumble with their faith than and more reason to question the truths found in the Bible than I ever remember having to face.

Sex is the norm today. Suicide is rising, especially among young white and black men. The constant push for the acceptance and experimentation with sex, witchcraft, homosexual relationships, eastern religions, metaphysical experiences, and the paranormal is enough to set any young person spinning. Even without all of the other stuff pressing in on all sides, if you leave a young Christian to look out for themselves, without offering help or leadership, look at all the Christian options that can confuse them: There's a vast array of choices of denominations and non-denominational-denominations to find a home with. Then you have the Word of Faith, Prophetic movement, Prosperity, those who don't believe in prosperity, apostolic, missionary push, and many more.

Youth need someone to help them begin their walk as a young Christian. They need someone to talk to, to share with, to bring their personal issues to, because, unfortunately it is not the parents that the youth are running to first, for advise, but their friends.

What you need to properly and effectively run a youth ministry?

1. Time Time is the first thing that you will have to realize no longer absolute, but relative. With youth, you have no off-limit' times. Teens have crisis all the time and at all hours. Some people will tell you that you need to let your youth group know when they can reach you and when you're off limits' for them. Yea, that is nice in thought, but not realistic. As a youth minister, myself , I found that greatest moments of impact were the moments away from Church, or the group. If I'd told the youth that 2am 6am was off limits' because I needed sleep, then I would have missed an opportunity to talk four girls out of committing suicide. Also you should understand that 40 hours a week, really doesn't work, try 80 hours a week.

2. Place Be ready to have an open door. If the youth really feel that they can trust you and that you are a safe place, a leader, you'll find them also coming to visit, because your home is also a safe place. I remember one night a young man, named Kevin woke me up. I was a little stunned since it was around 3am. I had a long night and had fallen to sleep on my couch. He was really having

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