Core Team
Changing the world happens one teen at a time. Teens do not connect to programs; they connect to people. The most effective way to influence teens is through relationships. Our goal is to develop disciples who will accompany teens in their journey to Christ.
Core team members are the heart and soul of the student ministry experience. Core team members facilitate small group discussions and activities during Edge Nights, Life Teen Nights, and Confirmation small groups. This may include helping out with planning the individual nights, leading large group prayer, praying with teens, giving witness/catechetical talks to the large group, and assisting on retreats.
Our Core Team lives by four primary principals:
1) Holy
Love Jesus.
Core Team members need to love God and have a personal relationship with Jesus. This is found through daily prayer, praying with Scripture, frequenting Mass and the Sacraments, engaging in service, commitment to a small faith community, and retreats. You can't share Jesus with the teens if you don't have a relationship with Him.
2) Relational
Teens won't always remember what you say, but how you make them feel.
Our Core Team strives to build positive relationships with teens. We do this by going out into the community where teens are, listening to teens and being understanding of the issues they are facing today, and believing in and helping teens reach their full potential. Teens want to feel appreciated and to feel they are being heard. We often refer to this as relational ministry, and it is the most important ministry our Core Team does.
3) Authentic
Role Model of the Faith.
Your actions speak louder than you words. We ask that our Core Team constantly live their faith and be willing to share it at all times. Teens easily spot insincerity and hypocrisy and this will destroy any relational ministry. We ask our Core Team to be really in their witness to how God has been at work in their life and prayer.
4) Involved
Be Active & Present.
This means being present in our different ministries and active in one of them (EDGE, Life Teen, Retreats, Mission Trips, Confirmation, etc.) by being involved in that ministry's activities and facilitating small group discussions. You are not a teacher, but a role model. It is ok if you don't have the answers, we provide you with a copy of the night's questions and give you questions to ask during small group time. Your main goal is to lead teens on their journey and help guide them in seeking the questions they have.
Life Support
One of the key elements to making our Student Ministries a second home for our teens is the environment. Transforming the Marcy Center each week happens due to the dedication of our Life Support team! Life Support is great for individuals who desire to help our ministries but is worried about the time commitment. Life Support helps to set-up an hour before EDGE, provide hospitality during Edge/Life Teen, or help clean-up for an hour after LIFE TEEN. For more information about these opportunities, contact Jill Fischer.
