The minister getting to know the young people
The youth minister can take other steps to get to know the teenagers. He should maintain a database of each young person as a first step before personally visiting in their homes. Remembering names and personal details will make a strong impression on the teenager and his family. And always remember, you will never really get to know a young person unless you spend time in his home. The youth minister’s task is to minister to the entire person, and this will include the family.

To get to know unchurched teens, the minister should think creatively and look for ways to use his talents and spiritual gifts to deepen (develop) relationships. It may be that a particular ability will be the bridge it takes to reach a lost young person. For example, if the youth minister knows how to play the guitar he might offer guitar classes. If he has interest in a particular sport he can use that as a springboard as he plays with the young people and helps them improve their knowledge of the activity. Sometimes it is more helpful to just play and have fun with the young people than “minister” using traditional methods.

Every young person has special needs
At times building strong personal relationships has much to do with the home life of the teen. On other occasions it may involve school work or teachers. There are many temptations in the young person’s life, and he struggles with how to resist or get out of a difficult situation. Other youth will face sexual challenges. The minister must nurture a sensitive spirit in order to recognize and properly identify felt needs. Though he may be able to identify needs, the youth minister must be honest with himself and others and admit when he cannot adequately minister to a particular circumstance. When it is necessary, he should refer the troubled teen and/or his family to other professional help better equipped to handle the situation.

Sharing together
Young people want a minister who is open, accessible, honest, and trustworthy. They must have the assurance that they can share anything with the minister without fear of being betrayed. The youth minister must be a good listener even when the subject matter is hard to face. Sometimes the undivided attention and patient ear of an adult is more helpful than words of advice. The youth minister should treat all of the teenagers with impartiality; each must be treated the same way with no exceptions. The minister will want to avoid anything that leads to hard feelings or divisions. Above all, the youth minister should remember that his ministry comes from the Lord, and in all circumstances he wants to personify the love of Christ.