Be a Teacher/Model

Be authentic with youth. Be vulnerable and share your experiences with each other and encourage them to do the same. Love youth unconditionally, even those who are most challenging to love.

Be Available

Use your email, voice-mail, cell phone and pager to stay in touch. Communication is crucial to building relationships. As adults working with youth, we must establish appropriate boundaries, but it is possible to "be there for them" in ways that honor both our boundaries and their need for adult support.

Building Relationships Requires Time

The average tenure of most youth workers is approximately 16 months. Yet longevity in youth ministry promotes stronger relationships and results in long-term high school youth involvement. Consistent leadership is important. If youth leaders come and go, so will youth. If youth drop out, the potential for drawing new youth to the church’s ministry drops also. How is your church supporting those who work with youth?

Be Intentional in Building Sacred Bridges

Purpose to connect youth with the larger community of faith. Provide opportunities for adults and youth to get to know one another. Assign youth and adults to work on projects or committees together. The possibilities are endless. These opportunities expand the number of caring adults the youth know and trust.