Calling All Youth Workers
Greasy French Fries
I was 17 years old when I first began running the JR. High Sunday School at my church. I was ready to make a difference in the lives of these young people the way that my youth leaders had done for me. I recruited parent volunteers, planned ridiculous games and prepped in-depth bible studies. I quickly found out that things do not always go according to plan. My parent volunteers quit and one of the girls pulled me aside one week to tell me that everyone in the group hated me.
I had to figure out something else. The next week I decided to ditch my lesson plan and coordinated some rides to the local McDonalds. Skipping church that day and sharing greasy French fries was apparently the trick to winning approval of this particular group. From that point on, things were better.
Twenty-two years later, I still use this experience to train the young youth workers on my team and shape my own approach. So many adults in the lives of youth stop engaging or showing up. We have to be will…
I had to figure out something else. The next week I decided to ditch my lesson plan and coordinated some rides to the local McDonalds. Skipping church that day and sharing greasy French fries was apparently the trick to winning approval of this particular group. From that point on, things were better.
Twenty-two years later, I still use this experience to train the young youth workers on my team and shape my own approach. So many adults in the lives of youth stop engaging or showing up. We have to be will…
Comments
Post a Comment