Kids on the Edge.

As a youth minister, you probably love the work that you do. You work with a thriving youth group and each kid always makes the right choices in life. They never stray from the path that you, and their equally perfect parents, have instructed them to follow. I should state the obvious here and note that this would not be the norm for almost every youth minister and family. Family life is difficult. The parents of your youth group members are living increasingly unsustainable lifestyles amidst an apparent explosion of distractions and dangers. From portable music players, infamous online chat-rooms, television, music, and movies; it is apparent that contemporary culture has taken a dive, all-but off the deep end. Add to these distractions the rapid rise in behavioral diagnoses and substance misuse among teenagers. What we have built is a recipe for disaster within far too many Christian families. Disasters that most youth ministers will not have the resources or ability to counteract.

What about these teens on the edge? They may still be involved in your youth group, at least on the fringe; but you know that they are slipping away. What can you do as a youth minister to address these needs? An answer may be doing some research into alternative intervention programs. You may have seen the television show brat camp. I have worked first hand in programs of this sort for around ten years. I have seen amazing turn-arounds with teens and families who were on the brink of disaster. The level of work that several of these programs perform is incredible. But, in understanding and teaching teens about what choices they have made, actions that were ineffective, and emotions that have been masked and distorted; God’s message is overlooked far too often. There are just not many quality Christian-based programs out there.

Now, you may be thinking, “Hey, I know what I’m doing.” Let me offer, in humility, that most youth pastors are not equipped to deal with teens at this stage. There are really too many entrenched behaviors and family dynamics for an untrained outsider to pick up on. Just as a mechanic would be more appropriate to work on your church van, an experienced intervention program is the tool of choice in this situation. If then you say, "Well, okay…but the last thing I’d refer a parent to is a secularly-based intervention!” You don’t have to, anymore! There are a few excellent programs out there worth checking out.

When my wife and I founded Palmer Adventures, almost one year ago, it was the beginning of the fulfillment of ten years of goal-oriented work. We’ve spent that time working and studying all across the board. We began as camp counselors, Bible Study leaders, youth ministry staff, undergraduates studying Recreation Management; progressed to wilderness therapy instructors, adventure guides; transitioned into case management, mental health, and community development; directed programs in academic settings like boarding schools and therapeutic foster placements; and now raising a family of our own, we are directing the ministry that God clarified in us even before we began dating over a decade ago. What a blessing the time has been and what joy we possess in seeing this fulfilled.

Article Source: http://youth-ministry-resources.com

www.palmeradventures.com www.christianwildernessprogram.com

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