As the Youth Minister at the
Chinese Gospel Church of Massachusetts (December 2007)
Fundamentals: Because a spiritual leader's first priorities are his own spiritual life and personal responsibilities, I put first my relationship with God and the needs of my family (1 Ti 3:4-5). A teacher is particularly held to high standards (Jam 3:1), and any minister who ignores his personal life becomes at least ineffective, if not hypocritical (Lk 6:39-42, Mt 23:15). Without being accountable to these, it becomes difficult to consider being a faithful minister. Therefore, the priorities of my own faithful living include:
1. Study and learn from the Bible
2. Spend time in worship and prayer
3. Spend quality time with my family as a husband and father
4. Maintain my physical health through appropriate eating, exercising, and sleeping
5. Keep a personal fellowship with other believers
6. Grow in personal study and training skills for ministry
7. Relate to the non-churched world and community
8. Have appropriate hobbies and leisure time
Pastoral Duties: The things a minister might do in direct pastoral work vary by gifts and callings. However, in this ministry opportunity, I believe that I can prioritize preaching, teaching, worship leading, visitation, counseling, and administration in this way:
1. Understand the teaching and principles of Scripture through Biblical study
2. Learn and be familiar with youth culture through informal time with them, online research, and media research
3. Learn about the families and parents' needs through visitation, counseling, and sharing
4. Pray for the students and their families weekly
5. Lead a Sunday service which gives opportunity for youth to experience God
6. Organize a Sunday school program that teaches the whole of the Word of God
7. Run a Friday night program which can be used as outreach
8. Maintain an online presence and availability for the youth through AIM, Facebook, and email
9. Visit and counsel youth as necessary for discipleship
10. Provide other activities that provide opportunities for service, evangelism, and fellowship
11. Support other church ministries as God calls
Management Schedule: To achieve these goals, a general weekly schedule is helpful.
Monday is a day of rest and for family.
Tuesday through Friday daytimes are used for administration, prayer, Biblical studies, youth culture research, and visitation.
Tuesday through Friday evenings are used for online contacts and Friday fellowship.
Saturday is used for special activities, outings, retreats, and trips.
Sunday mornings are used for ministry and afternoons for visitation.