by Matt Reinkemeyer, Director of Youth Ministry - St. Margaret of York Parish
That was a big day for me, sitting in the parking lot at Franciscan University on a college visit in late February 2009. It was the culmination of 2.5 years of the Lord preparing my heart that included a stint in both college seminary and community college; philosophy, theology, and mathematics classes; and future plans that ranged from Catholic Priest, Computer Engineer, Math Teacher and finally Youth Minister. You could say that God was slow in showing his plan to me or you could say that I was stubborn and took the scenic route to see it. Or you could say that it was perfect and put me right where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be there.
Don’t believe me? Ask my wife. Not only did I answer a call to youth ministry that day, I also met my wife. No joke! We were on the same campus tour, sat in on the same theology class, ate lunch together, and our parents met too. Crazy how God works. Little did I know that 3.5 years later I would graduate with a Degree in Youth Ministry, move to a new city, get married to the love of my life and start an amazing and humbling journey as a youth minister all within the course of about 2 months in 2012.
Fast forward to today and I get to write to you on this US World Youth Day as I’m in my fourth year of youth ministry at St. Margaret of York. It’s been an awesome trip. The work of evangelization – amazing, figuring out how to start a youth ministry from scratch – humbling, the to-do list – daunting, the teens and families I’ve met along the way – magnificent!
So, why do Youth Ministry? Why invest in an age demographic that most people are content to send out on their own with a sticker that says “Don’t touch until 25 years old!” It’s simple.
Teens are thirsty and they’re seeking answers.
Now don’t get me wrong. You may not see their thirst at first. Teens, you may not even know you’re thirsty. I know there’s times when the Lord has to show me my need again and again. But make no mistake, teens are thirsting and they’re seeking.
My background, my story, the way I ended up here, is all part of Jesus’ plan in my life. But that plan isn’t just for me. It’s for these teens. Through it I’ve learned some of the answers, but more importantly I feel I can relate to the questions. But this ability to relate is not unique to youth ministers. It’s something we can each do because we are either teens or we were teens once upon a time.
Archbishop Schnurr frequently reminds the young people he encounters that they are not the Church of tomorrow, but the Church of TODAY. So my encouragement to you all TODAY on this US World Youth Day is twofold:
If you are a TEEN, then keep asking the questions. Your questions aren’t reasons to leave the faith, but rather the key to building it. You’re not learning to be Church, you are the Church learning, thirsting, and seeking. But asking questions implies finding someone to ask. Do you have that person in your life or realistically, those people? Studies show you need to hear from and be disciplined in the faith by more than one person. Find them. They’re out there. We care about you. We want to walk with you!
If you are a PARENT, then love your teens. Love them enough to keep talking to them and listening to their questions. Sometimes it seems like they’re not listening… they are. And what you talk to them about says a lot and what you DON’T talk to them about says a lot too. Where do your discussions about faith fall on this spectrum?
Find other adults to help you mentor your teens too. It makes a difference. We all want our teens to have faith when they leave the safety of our homes, parishes and youth ministries for the world of college and work. The research tells us that your faith life as a parent is the largest indicator of whether a child will continue in the faith once they leave home. The second greatest indicator though, is whether there are other adults invested in the faith life of your teen. As a youth minister, I hope that the ministry we provide can help you in this; that it can provide you with the confidence to relate your own life experience and faith to your teen and at the same time provide other adult mentors to place around your teen who are there echoing the same message of faith and hope. We’re here for you too!
So, on US World Youth Day, let’s celebrate the youth in our lives and the families and adults who help them find and keep faith. Let’s recognize the goodness in our teens and not just the brokenness. Let’s see them the way St. Paul sees the young people he knew:
“Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
You young people have been an example to me many times. That knowledge reminds me that just as I was where I was supposed to be on that campus tour almost 7 years ago, I’m where I’m supposed to be now. I’m here with a group of amazing teens on a Sunday night… asking questions.