My Three Hats at the National Youth Worker Convention
By Len on Oct 17, 2011 in NNYM, Prayer Updates, Youth Ministry
I joked about wearing three hats at the National Youth Workers Convention before I went but I turned out to be so true and I didn’t suffer from identity whiplash because all three roles are who I am. The three hats were: National Network of Youth Ministries hat, We Love Our Youth Worker hat and Simply Soul Care hat.
I probably talked with over 400 youth workers about We Love Our Youth Worker. I would say something like this:
We Love Our Youth Worker began in the UK about three years ago as a way of creating a healthier working environment for youth workers. It’s been a great success as you have the Anglicans, Catholics, Baptist, Presbyterians and more agreeing on something because it has nothing to do with theology or giving your youth worker a twenty percent pay raise.
It’s seven simple promises that churches agree to:
We will pray and spiritually support
We will give space for retreat and reflection
We will provide ongoing training and development
We will give at least one full day of rest per week
We will share responsibility
We will strive to be an excellent employer
We will celebrate and appreciate
We’ve now brought it over to the United States to help youth workers and their churches to be stronger and have a healthier approach to ministry. As a covenant, we ask the youth worker to agree to the same principles as a supportive act towards their churches. I happen to also work, very part time, for Simply Youth Ministry serving as a pastor with Simply Soul Care. I know if more churches were doing these seven simple things for their youth worker, we’d be helping fewer youth workers with Simply Soul Care.
One of the highlights this year was meeting one of the first youth workers that we helped with Simply Soul Care while I was in San Diego. He found me and thanked me for what we were offering and for the person on our team.
“The moment I saw that Simply Youth Ministry was offering short-term care for youth pastors, I applied to it immediately! Like many youth pastors, I struggle to find a safe place to share my heart, my struggles, and/or my concerns. Thank you Simply Youth Ministry for your leadership in this area.
If youth pastors are going to remain healthy and encouraged, it is imperative we have safe havens where we can confide in someone who cares, someone who has been there. I have been praying for an opportunity like this since I started my current position. Thank you. God bless you. My prayer is for this ministry to flourish. I believe that Simply Soul Care is a key component in our success in discipling young people. I’m going to tell every youth pastor I know!”
That is why I do this and why I’m so thrilled to be a part of Simply Soul Care, we’re helping youth workers stay in ministry longer and to keep working in the fields for the harvest. Thank you for your support and encouragement as I keep wearing my three hats so I can help youth workers be stronger and healthier and have a longer and deeper ministry of reaching students with the Gospel.
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