Youth pastoring is great! You have to have a good sense of humor and thick skin! They sometimes seem amazed that even when they really mess up we still love them. How could we not when Christ loved us while we were yet sinners. Some of them have parents that just dont care.
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I think that was the hardest part, in my expereince, it felt like I was their parent rather than their own parents.
Right after I became a Christian, DH and I were involved in this one ministry that ended up being to gang kids. It was amazing. They were tough, loud, vulgar and always testing the limits. Then (most not all) would come to see the love of Christ through us, and accept Him and it was so amazing to watch their lives change.
Kinda like a modern “Cross and the Switchblade”
We had one young lady within the last two years that went from hating me to calling me mom. She still has a way to go but it is good to see their hearts softening.