Comments on: Why I recruit retired adults to be youth leaders http://www.studentministry.org/why-i-recruit-retired-adults-to-be-youth-leaders/ Conversations among those passionate for teenagers. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:15:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Tim Schmoyer http://www.studentministry.org/why-i-recruit-retired-adults-to-be-youth-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-124040 Tim Schmoyer Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:46:50 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=1171#comment-124040 @ Corey Potter: Point well taken. However, it sounds to me that it's a stereotype issue more than an "old person" issue. Kids might feel that way at first, but what if the retired adult truly demonstrated to kids over a couple weeks how much they care for them, that they're there to listen and encourage them, not to judge or be critical? I'm sure the teens could quickly change their minds if that's the genuine heart of the older adult. If it's not, then yeah, you're probably absolutely correct, but you shouldn't recruit adults who don't have a heart for teens either way, regardless of their age. @ Corey Potter: Point well taken. However, it sounds to me that it’s a stereotype issue more than an “old person” issue. Kids might feel that way at first, but what if the retired adult truly demonstrated to kids over a couple weeks how much they care for them, that they’re there to listen and encourage them, not to judge or be critical? I’m sure the teens could quickly change their minds if that’s the genuine heart of the older adult. If it’s not, then yeah, you’re probably absolutely correct, but you shouldn’t recruit adults who don’t have a heart for teens either way, regardless of their age.

]]> By: Corey Potter http://www.studentministry.org/why-i-recruit-retired-adults-to-be-youth-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-124032 Corey Potter Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:27:14 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=1171#comment-124032 I think your points are very true except for one thing. I recently came through a youth group and I still help out as a leader in the youth group. I know that I would have personally felt awkward with a retired adult being a youth volunteer. I think youth DO care about whether or not they feel comfortable with the leaders, and especially in our church, the youth are not very comfortable with the older adults. It might be because of how traditional all the older adults are, and the youth have had bad experiences with them. I feel like the kids in our youth group would have a hard time being themselves because they would feel like the adults were always watching them... and they don't like any of the same kind of things. I also think they'd probably get the "you're too old to understand... things were different when you were young" attitude. Maybe this is just our church, but I feel like it wouldn't go over well. I think your points are very true except for one thing. I recently came through a youth group and I still help out as a leader in the youth group. I know that I would have personally felt awkward with a retired adult being a youth volunteer. I think youth DO care about whether or not they feel comfortable with the leaders, and especially in our church, the youth are not very comfortable with the older adults. It might be because of how traditional all the older adults are, and the youth have had bad experiences with them. I feel like the kids in our youth group would have a hard time being themselves because they would feel like the adults were always watching them… and they don’t like any of the same kind of things. I also think they’d probably get the “you’re too old to understand… things were different when you were young” attitude.

Maybe this is just our church, but I feel like it wouldn’t go over well.

]]> By: Brian http://www.studentministry.org/why-i-recruit-retired-adults-to-be-youth-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-122927 Brian Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:40:15 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=1171#comment-122927 Good post Tim! Over the years I've had retiree volunteers and they've been great. Many times they have taught me something. I'm glad you wrote this, I believe every youth leader can benefit from recruiting a retired person to help lead. Good post Tim! Over the years I’ve had retiree volunteers and they’ve been great. Many times they have taught me something. I’m glad you wrote this, I believe every youth leader can benefit from recruiting a retired person to help lead.

]]> By: The Grove Is On Fire http://www.studentministry.org/why-i-recruit-retired-adults-to-be-youth-leaders/comment-page-1/#comment-123714 The Grove Is On Fire Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.studentministry.org/?p=1171#comment-123714 <!--%kramer-pre%-->Everything in this article is true<!--%kramer-post%--> links from TechnoratiEverything in this article is true

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