Written by Julia Jenkins
On Jan. 30 Harding University hosted a number of youth ministers from across the country, along with about ten of Harding’s own students. This Youth Ministry Workshop event, hopefully the first of many, was intended to be a way to encourage, unify and equip people involved in youth ministry. Local youth minister and adjunct Bible and Ministry professor described how the inspiration behind hosting this event on Harding’s campus was to provide a community for youth ministers.
“We want to be intentional about being a blessing to youth ministers,” Dockery said. “We are prayerful and hopeful that it will be a blessing to those who attend.”
The event consisted of multiple speakers discussing topics such as the value of youth ministry, the importance of summer interns and tools to help equip youth ministers in facing common challenges. After long hours of interviewing students interested in becoming youth interns, youth ministers were able to be refreshed by the times of worship and teaching held on Thursday evening and Friday morning. Junior Joey Hobbie also attended the event and discussed some of his main takeaways.
“One thing that I’ll takeaway is how important it is to be purposeful in what you do,” Hobbie said. “Even as a youth intern, you are a leader in that youth group or college group. I want to make sure that the things that I say and that I do uplift others. And, obviously, I want to make sure that I’m putting God at the forefront of everything that I do.”
Both Hobbie and Senior Savannah McReynolds, who didn’t grow up with youth groups, found this event to be eye opening.
“It was definitely a little eye opening,” McReynolds said, “because I knew I was missing out on not having a youth group, but I was like, wow. I guess I didn’t realize how big youth ministry was. And I want to be a part of that somehow, whatever church I’m at. It’s cool to see people’s passion for their ministry and for these kids.”
Hobbie echoed this sentiment. “Growing up in the youth group, the only thing I really cared about was getting to do things,” Hobbie said. “I got to see behind the scenes about how much thought actually goes into what they’re teaching us. You want every single person that comes through a youth group to have the best experience that they can, but also to walk out learning as much as they can.”
It’s safe to say that the Youth Ministry Workshop was successful in its intent to provide youth ministers and students alike with tools to promote sustainable and healthy youth ministries.
