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Nearly every Christian adult can serve as a support- ive adult to a teen in their youth ministry. Sometimes those connections are made organically and other times they are developed through programming. Older adults may connect to teens through service—altar guild, ushering, and VBS, for example. Some congrega- tions have specific programs for confirmation men- tors. Others facilitate this by allowing Sunday School teachers to age up with a specific group of students. Regardless of how the connection is formed, being a supportive adult does not need to be complex or time-consuming. Being a supportive adult isn't a one-way street. Teens have a lot of wonderful gifts that they bring to the relationship as well. They have a unique perspective and passion that is often lost in adulthood. As digital natives, they can bring a lot of insight into our culture today for those who grew up before cell phones. Each teen has gifts, skills, passions, and experiences that can be shared with mutual trust and honesty. It is important to note that no pastor or other church worker can be the only supportive adult to all a congre- gation's teens. Often congregations depend on church workers to be the single person maintaining relation- ships with teens. Instead, their time may be better served networking teens and adults through common passions, service, and programming. Youth ministry is always a team effort. When looking for supportive adults, it is critical that they be Christians who are active in learning about who God is and what Jesus Christ has done as well as in ser- vice and leadership. As God works through their voca- tions, supportive adults model and encourage faithful worship, Bible study, and prayer. In all they do, they are seeking to draw young people closer to Jesus and to His Church. Through good times and bad, supportive adults help keep God's Word in front of young people and show they have their eternal best interest at heart. Finding yourself in a space of being a supportive adult will take time. Keep checking in with your youth and seek out opportunities for conversation and hospitali- ty. There will be times when you will be unsure of what to say or do. You may even struggle to be supportive of some teens. Yet, many of us would not be here if, when we were young, there had not been adults in the church who through the Holy Spirit pointed us over and over to the cross. Young people want to know they are valued and loved by God, by their parents, and by other adults. w Supportive Adults • Ask good questions and provide a listening ear on everyday easy topics as well as difficult moments of struggle. Engaging in conversation is the place where we learn about each other. • Share who they are in Christ, openly and honestly. This means showing both how God is working through them in their various voca- tions but also the ways in which they are still learning or struggling. In this space they need to show challenge, but not judgment or cri- tique. • Set an example for teens by spending regu- lar time in God's Word, prayer, worship, and frequently use words of confession and absolu- tion in their relationship. Supportive adults do not have to be perfect, but they are best able to point young people to Jesus when they are deeply rooted in Christ. • Build a reciprocal relationship with mutual trust. This means both having a genuine inter- est in getting to know a young person including their gifts, skills, and passions but also a will- ingness to earn the right to be heard. • Extend hospitality in sharing time, celebrations, joy, crises, and struggles as they walk alongside young people. Lutheran Life 21

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