What makes our youth ministers passionate about their ministry? What life lessons can we learn as we read their interviews? Ps Tan Yunyun (TY) from Zion Full Gospel Church and Sis Reetha Vanimogan (RV) from Hosanna AG shares their hearts in this interview.
Describe your vision of a vibrant Youth Ministry.
TY: A vibrant Youth Ministry is engaging to youths, welcomes the work of the Holy Spirit, hungry for God’s truth, lives out Jesus in their lives, and connected to the body of Christ. The last point about being connected to the body of Christ might be easily overlooked as a characteristic of a healthy Youth Ministry. Truth be told, studies have shown that Youth Ministry needs the different generations to come together to help youths mature in their faith. More than simply building a vibrant Youth Ministry, it’s also about building a strong church!
RV: I’ve an image when I envision Youth brought forth by a vibrant ministry. They have a spring in their walk, with the zeal for the Lord and His Kingdom. They have a buzz within them of wanting to share their faith and the wonderful works of the Lord in their life with the broken, lost and weary. They worship in Spirit with yielded hearts and pure adoration of the Saviour, whom they had met from having scoured through the bible, both individually and corporately. My vision is to see Youths own their faith and become pillars in Kingdom expansion.
What is one principle you abide by when you serve in this ministry and why?
TY: I have this quote from Mark DeVries, “Sustainable Youth Ministry” pasted on the front of my desk. It says “I have no power to make people grow. What I can do is create an environment in which this kind of growth and change is not only possible, but probable.” This principle has helped me to focus on what I do have control over, instead of losing sleep over what I cannot control. We all desire to see people’s lives transformed into Christlikeness. But we don’t actually have the power to make people change, and people generally hate it when we treat them as projects to work on. DeVries sees youth workers as “environmental architectures” (a term he had borrowed from Erwin McManus) and how we are able to create climates of transformation where youths are more likely to want to grow.
RV: This is what I often tell myself whenever I am ministering among the Youth: “It is not all about you. Don’t get caught up with yourself. It’s about Jesus and you are directing them to look to Jesus. Lord, do what you want.” The principle I hold is yielding to the Lord both, in ministerial life and in my secret prayer closet because that’s when He steps in. Steffany Gretzinger once said, “He is worthy of the (perfume) bottle being broken in secret and in front of…people.” That spoke volumes to me.
How do you keep your passion burning as you serve?
TY: Guard your walk with God! More than a feeling or how much energy you have, passion is about the One who has called us. In ministry, it is very easy to compromise on our own spiritual growth and intimacy with God. It can get tempting to seek God only for what is needed in the ministry. But time spent in ministry cannot be substituted as time with God. It is essential to set aside time to sit with God. Do things that bring you joy with God regularly. Practicing this has kept me going when it gets tough.
RV: Surely, having an intimate prayer life coupled with the reading of His Word helps. It is where I learn to see people as carriers of His image. This can include those who can be a disappointment in ministry which if I allow, can diminish passion. However, seeing youths being transformed and blooming for the Lord fuels my passion. Also, learning from those who are able to speak into my life as a Next Gen leader keeps me going. Especially seniors in ministry. Stepping out in faith in my ministry also adds ‘the thrill’ to passion.
What do you think is one most important quality of a youth minister?
TY: This is such a tough question! It’s difficult to distil all that youth ministers do, down to just one important quality. If I really must choose one, I will go with the Great Commandment: To love God and to love people (Does that still count as one quality?) If I’m not able to love the youths I serve, I gain nothing! But if I love them, God’s love will compel me to fill in what I’m lacking in and do what’s needed to reach them for God.
FV: One quality I believe that a youth minister should have is character. Parents would definitely find assurance that their teenagers are in good hands. Youths should also be able to find someone in their sphere who has shown them that it is possible to live a godly life and exemplify good character even as the world turns and evolves. The go-to verse for every youth minister should be 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
