Yesterday, I had the chance to spend some time with a few guys working on an event that will be happening over the next several months during the summer. As we sat there and talked about what needed to be done for the event and all the different ideas that we had, I noticed one thing, a lot of Youth Minister’s don’t have a group of people that they get together with and spend time with just talking about life and ministry.

I want to take a minute and just share some benefits that I see for us to gather as Youth Minister’s.

1. You need it – Too often we are busy and when we are approached by others who are interested in getting together we just push it off. We feel like we have a lot on our plates and when we get together to just talk we are not accomplishing anything of value. So, even though we think it might be worth our time we don’t involve ourselves. However, there will come a time when you feel alone and don’t have the connections that you need in order to function in a world that is beating you up. Meeting together give you the chance to learn from one another, share about family, talk about your dreams and simply gives you a place to let guard down.

2. They need you – One of the other benefits of Youth Minister’s getting together is that we do have something to offer those gathering with. Often we may feel like the odd man/girl out but each of us have had life experience that gives us the right to share with others when they are going through similar issues. I have never met an individual that i could not learn something from.

3. It gives life – I can not tell you how good it feels to get together with a group of Youth Ministers. Every time I do I walk away realizing that I am not alone, that others have the same struggles that I do. These gatherings seem to be places where we hear cool stories of what is happening in the kingdom and it reassures us that we are doing ministry for a reason. These conversations often leave me feeling good about life and what I am doing.

4. Community is not just for your students – The life that we recieve when gathering with other Youth ministers is the very thing that we are fighting to give our students every time they walk into our ministries. Community is not something that we can really give unless we are in it ourselves. It is my opinion that Youth Ministers need community more than any other ministry area. We are under such challenges to reach students while the world is dragging them away and we are fighting to keep them connected to the church in hope that they may see Jesus. Without community this will seem like a task that is overwhelming and should be given up on. However, with community we find hope and reason to keep trying. If it is important for your students, then it is important for you as well.

I encourage you to find a group that is meeting in your area and get together with them. They do not have to be from the same denomination as yours just get together with like minded people in ministry. If you can’t find one call a local YM up and get it started.