YouthWorker, Who Are You?

In the recent January/February 2013 YOUTHWORKER Journal the title caught my eye and almost compelled me to read it right away.

Who Am I? How youth workers can help kids develop a healthy identity.

After reading a few of the articles and thoughts written through out the journal by well respected professional youth workers, I was struck by a thought that has me completely perplexed.

How can youth workers help kids develop a healthy identity when youth workers themselves don't even know their own identity in Christ?

I work with multiple youth workers from numerous denominations here in Toronto and the GTA (greater toronto area). One of the top issues I hear from youth workers is their sense of being lost. Lostness brings doubt and insecurity to anyone but when you are leading a youth ministry and this lostness sets in you start to question everything and you begin to doubt who you are or even worse, you forget who you are.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Do you feel lost? Has doubt or insecurity begun to consume your thoughts and the way you live? Maybe you need someone around you to remind you of who you are!

In the 1991 movie Hook, Peter, played by Robin Williams, has forgotten his true identity that he is really Peter Pan but all grown up.

Jeff Smyth is a youth worker who has been involved in both the local church and non-profit areas of Canada for more than 15 years. Jeff lives in Toronto with his wife Heather and son Nathan.
Jeff online: ThinkYouthMinistry.com, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+