The youth is facing many challenges and in reality these challenges begins already from Grade 9, when subject choices will determine in which occupational direction they will be heading. Occupational choices isn’t necessarily made on financial basis only, but is based on what will bring them not only job satisfaction, but also life fulfilment.

Thus three phases that everyone has gone through has been identified and is unavoidable. These phases are

1. Youth

2. Student

3. Young Adults

The youth worker will thus have an influential role to play in the lives of these people; will enable the youth to develop self belief with the "Will to Succeed". Three different programs therefore needs to be developed as well as implemented by the Youth worker and will look something like this.

Youth

Developing the realization that they are gifted, and that they are very well capable to make well informed and realistic decisions in regards to their futures. This will be done through helping them to look at their abilities and how to advance with the gifts that God has given them e.g. the word "love" already so many occupations can come to one’s mind.

Student

Students know from the time of their youth what they wanted to do are experiencing a reality when they come into University, since they are bombarded with so many other options as they discover new gifts during their studies while seeing the vast choices which they have in the area which they choose as an occupation. This at times unsettles them and could cause a number of difficulties which may derail them from their choice of occupation. As a result of this a premature ending in studies may occur or they may have a change in behavioural patterns, which could cause instability of the person as a whole.

Therefore the role of the youth worker will be one of support, while reaffirming the individual that they have the ability, the heart and the gifts, which forms the main ingredients for success in their studies.

Young Adults

Working with Young Adults the challenge is found in regards to adapting in the work environment, since it is in this area, where young people becomes independant from their parents and thus help these age group to find a balance when it comes to work and social activities. Social activities do not include church responsibilities alone but also those activities which the individual does as a hobby etc. It is in this stage that burn outs is a common occurrence and therefore the youth worker needs to find ways, which enables young adults to cope with this phase in their lives. It is also during this phase that they start to settle down and where relationships become extremely important.

These are the three phases and all needs to be addressed on its own merits and what makes this enormous task even more difficult is the fact that people are at different stages in their lives and therefore each group needs to be catered for in its own terms, which depends on the phase, while at the same time one deals with individual’s personal development, meaning walking with each individual a very personal journey. This is very time consuming and therefore a youth worker needs to be at a point in his/her own life, where they themselves have found fulfilment and joy in what they are doing and if that is not the case then it would be advisable that such an individual does not work with youth since it can cause more harm than good.

The concept of a hub meaning "a cluster" of youth ministries" working together is thus very important and one cannot go without it, because of the fact that a lot of development happens when youth members are among their peers in whom they discuss their fears more openly and freely.

Circumstances changes all the time and thus people need to adapt to these ever changing circumstances just to survive and therefore doing good youth work is vital in facilitating our young people to find their way in their own personal goal of finding fulfilment in what they do. When in doubt it will cause them not to move rather to protect themselves they will remain in their position where they feel safe for as long as they experience troubled waters. Youth workers need to stabilize these troubled waters to the best of their ability and only when they achieve this will young people be able to step out of the boat (their comfort zone) with renewed strength and courage to wither the storms of life. In the caring business every role player needs to come on board and therefore putting obstacles in such people’s way only hinders the process, which could destroy all the good intended work that has already been done.

A youth worker therefore, needs to be well equipped with support staff from every corner of society and has to have the clear path to assist the youth member in every way possible in conjunction with parents, congregation councils, circuit councils and central church council and when needed with local social workers, NGO’s and psychologists.

Youth workers needs to form youth workers fraternal, a forum where youth workers can meet to discuss issues of common interests, but it also serves as a forum where they can talk about their own personal difficulties in which they feel free to share with co- youth workers the difficulties they experience. This forum will free them up to discuss openly about problems they personally are facing without being judged or being in conflict with their employers.

The youth ministry thus needs to be taken seriously in all spheres of governance and when commitment is lacking by one of these institutions then the success of that ministry is facing the danger of failing its mandate and purpose for which it was established in the first place and it will only become another frustration instead of a blessing.

Youth ministry when properly supported can enrich the congregational growth immensely which will lead to a growing church with enough personnel to move freely among congregations when it is deemed necessary. The youth ministry within a church thus becomes a viable option for a possible career path with more advantages than disadvantages and widens the scope of opportunities in a particular church. I am of opinion that this will not only build stronger ecumenical relations across the whole church perspectrum but it will develop more enthusiasm among members of mainline churches that a firm and steady co-operation between them is possible, since it is based on common interests, which could serve the body of Christ well.

That should be our aim in everything we do and on every project we embark upon!!!

Georg Kehrhahn

CEO: Kehrhahnministries