The Blessings of Teen Ministry (part 2)

The church's teen ministry is growing in numbers. We started with 11 people on April last year and starting this February the average weekly attendance is 35 people. We realized that as the number grows we have to change the system. And we did. It was smooth and manageable, but it doesn’t come easily, at least for me. 

Since there are more people, there are more responsibilities and demands, and it started to take lots of my time and energy. I realized that I need to start delegating some major responsibilities to others. For me, it is not easy. There were many times I was hit by doubt. I was thinking, “Should I let them do this? Will they be able to do it? Can I trust them?” I was struggling. It is not just a matter of changing a system, but it is about trust. I was struggling to trust others. I’m afraid something will go wrong and I will be held responsible for what others do. 

In times like this, God really taught me to trust and to let go. I started to change the system, which means giving greater responsibilities to the teens. I realized that trusting others can also means trusting that God will work through them, that He will enable them. Change can be worrisome, but I learn to let go and to accept responsibilities should things go wrong. 

While I learn to trust others, I also learn that trusting others also comes with wisdom. I am grateful for the past 10 months that the church gave me to be with the teens. They released me from other responsibilities that would clash with teen ministry. I got to spend a lot of time with the teens and it enabled me to know them personally. Knowing them well helps me in making decisions about who to trust and when to start letting them take the responsibility. I really believe that God is with me throughout the whole process. 

There are times when some of them did not take it well, but God has assured me to be patient and be with them in times of failure until one day they are fit for the responsibilities. But most of the times I was actually at peace, knowing that most of them are taking the responsibilities very well, even beyond my expectation. Some of them take initiatives to provide feedback, ask for counsel, and even do an extra mile. I thank God that He gave me the courage to trust them. 

When I see some of them taking the major responsibilities very well, I sometimes wonder, “Maybe I should let them take the responsibilities much earlier!” I think I need to be more courageous in letting go and trusting others :)