He doesn’t make it about him, for he also displays an ability to delegate through identifying gifts in others and calling them into service. He exhibits a rare earnestness in the way he loves students and pursues both them and their families. I could not be more grateful.īecky Paynter, Mom to three adult children and two foster babies in Winston-Salem, NCĪny notion of a youth pastor who is merely biding time until he “moves up the ranks” was erased when we hired our youth pastor for the position at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. God has done great work in my sons through each of you. You pray for them and encourage them and love them still, even as they are young adults. Most of all, you have been true big brothers in the faith. You played hours of basketball and Mafia and gave advice about girls and ate that last cold piece of pizza more times than anyone should ever have to do. You persevered when they avoided you and you received them back gladly when they were ready. ![]() You called them out when they were being, well, teenage boys. They learned that the Bible isn’t about them, it’s about God. Thanks to you and your volunteers, my boys have true friends who are two and three and even four decades older than they are! You taught my sons the true gospel straight from the Bible and never dumbed it down. Through serving and learning together with other kids and adult volunteers, my boys learned to love the whole church while they were in youth ministry. For that, we are eternally grateful.Īnna Meade Harris, Mom to three sons in Birmingham, ALĭear youth ministers, I hardly know what to say, so I will let my actions speak louder than my words: I am so appreciative of the way you have ministered to my sons that I took a job with Rooted to support the work you do! The influence you have had on my sons has been profound. Because you love Jesus, you are able to love our kids. We know that there are many aspects of this calling that are uniquely challenging, and at times wearisome, but your love for Jesus is evident and it overflows onto these kids even when your energy is lacking. Thank you for showing our youth the value and the joy in being a part of the body of Christ. Because of this, many have been blessed by you, and our kids have learned by watching your service. We are thankful for your involvement in the church body outside of youth ministry. Thank you for the time you give us as parents in prayer and in conversation. It’s a tremendous gift to communicate fears, sorrows, questions, and concerns about our teens without feeling judged or belittled. We are also thankful for your eagerness in listening to us. Thank you for carrying their burdens on many occasions. ![]() ![]() Because of this, they tend to share openly with you. You listen intentionally, trying to understand their world and their perspective. We are thankful for your willingness to listen to our kids. Thank you for thinking “outside the box” in considering ways to grow this important ministry and for thinking creatively about new ways to love, teach, and mentor our youth. It’s clear that you believe this is a vital ministry and a worthy calling and not just a steppingstone in your ministry path. ![]() We are thankful to you for following the Lord’s leading and moving forward with joy into this work. So, in this season of thanksgiving, I want to share just some of the reasons we as parents are deeply grateful for your ongoing perseverance in youth ministry. Katie Polski, Mother of two daughters and a son in Kirkwood, MOĭear youth minister, your work is invaluable, and the gratitude we feel for your service is not expressed often enough. So here’s to the youth ministers who faithfully teach the Word, sleep in bunk beds on retreats, goof off with teenagers, and point them to the gospel week by week! This Thanksgiving week, we invited parents and youth ministers (along with some wonderful students) to celebrate their partnership in the gospel by expressing gratitude for one another. One of Rooted’s Five Pillars of Youth Ministry is Partnering with Parents.
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