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Serve Well the Young People of the Congregation: SEVEN PRACTICES OF HEALTHY YOUTH MINISTRY Youth leaders come in so many variations. Some congregations can afford to have professional church workers whose focus is youth ministry and others rely on volunteers. There are leaders who have been doing youth ministry for twice as long as the teens in their ministry have been alive and others that just stepped up last week. Some are naturally drawn to teens and others take a bit of warming up. Parents, young adults, retirees, pastors, DCEs, and more are all filling this vital role in their congregations. One thing all youth leaders share is that they take no greater joy than in seeing young people who are walking in the truth of Jesus. Their heart is for youth ministry so that the teens in their care can know the Lord Jesus, who died for their sins on the cross and rose again to give them eternal life. Youth leaders want to see their youth become disciples of Jesus for life. They pray for God's wisdom and for the Holy Spirit to guide them. They read articles and talk to other youth leaders. They are constantly assessing how they can better serve and care for the teens in their congregation and community. There have been many models for youth ministry in the LCMS throughout the years. Congregations have served their young people in a variety of ways at different times. While the Word of God and what we teach do not change, the way we plan, teach, engage, and program toward young people do and will. As the world continues to change, youth leaders may feel unprepared to face the unique gifts and challenges of working with this generation of teens. The articles in this issue of Lutheran Life magazine are all about healthy youth ministry in your congregation. May God richly bless your efforts on behalf of His sons and daughters. w I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4) 2 Lutheran Life

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