How to Become a Youth Group Director

Many churches mistakenly put just any volunteer in the youth group director position. It's true that if this isn't a paid position filled by a clergy member, volunteers are needed to step up, but becoming an effective director requires some education, training and loads of patience. You can become a youth group director, just keep the following tips in mind.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Take time to consider the request. Just because church leadership asks you to take over the role of youth group director doesn't mean that you should automatically accept. You were singled out because others see the potential in you, but it's up to you to decide if you're at a place in your life to put in the necessary time and dedication it takes to direct your congregation's youth.
2. Attend training seminars. After you accept the position, it's time to get down to the business of learning what it takes. Your church should be able to guide you to a number of seminars and conferences that provide valuable information and education on which to build your directorship.
3. Take a trip to the bookstore. There are multitudes of books available that will teach you how to become a youth group director. Shop at your local Christian bookstore or search Amazon to find just the right resource for you.
4. Look for a youth worker fellowship group in your town or county. Spend time with other youth group directors in a support network where you can air out problems you may be having or share tips that have worked for you. Listening to others will give you solutions and advice to real-life situations that you can't find elsewhere.
5. Devise a survey or questionnaire. These are valuable tools to hand out at your first meeting. Insist that each member fill one out in its entirety, and set aside enough time for the youth to write down well thought-out answers. This is a great way to find out what they expect from you and the youth group experience without putting them on the spot.
6. Become certified in CPR and take additional first-aid classes. These kids are your responsibility for the duration of each meeting or outing. You should be able to tell parents that you know CPR and have first-aid training that will help you better handle an emergency.
7. Hand ownership back to the youth. You're the director, but this isn't your program; you're just the person in charge of keeping things running smoothly and with direction. Have brainstorming sessions with your youth, asking for ideas for meetings and trips. Have a team of two lead a meeting at least once a month to give them ownership of their group an idea of what it's like to do your job. They'll be proud to ask friends to join the group.

Tips & Warnings

• Plan on attending a youth group ministry conference annually to keep up with your training.
• Be organized and keep files on each of your youth that includes addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdays and hobbies and interests.
• Never offer to drive a youth group member home from a meeting, and always have a volunteer or co-leader present when meeting with a member to avoid abuse accusations.

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