Five Peer Ministry Goals

Peer Ministry strives to help participants see caring and welcoming ministry in the midst of all aspects of life. In some cases the Peer Ministry goals are established ahead of time. Peer Ministers join in because they want to participate in an established ministry. In other cases the goals are left for the individual and the group to pick according to the needs they are most drawn to. Trained adult facilitators give ongoing support to Peer Ministers as they live out and learn from these ministry goals.

# 1. Goal With Individual

• Welcome and introduce a new person to others
• Interpret churches costumes and traditions to visiting friend
• Help a new refugee get to know surroundings, language and people
• Visit another youth in the hospital
• Go with a pastor to welcome a new family
• Support a friend recovering from an addiction
• Ask a distressed stranger, if you can help or find help
• Mentor a younger student or friend with a tough school topic
• Befriend someone who needs a friend

# 2. Goal With Family

• Ask a parent about their day
• Leading mealtime prayers
• Leading Candle Time devotion
• Help create a welcoming atmosphere in your home
• Do something extra and unexpected for a family
• Spending extra time with a Grandparent
• Help strengthen families rituals and traditions
• Take an interest in another family members hobby
• Ask about family faith stories and wonder together about faith questions
• Suggest a family night out
• Seek to be more understanding to family members situations
• Suggest a family service project

# 3. Team Goal With Congregation

• Add enthusiasm and relational energy to every event and program
• Ensure that all are invited, all are included, and all are excepted
• Lead small group discussions and Bible Study
• Become the camping and retreat staff for younger youth
• Invite others to come to group events
• Befriend and lead younger youth on retreats
• Meet and greet people before and after worship
• Seek out and include youth who are not participating
• Ride the bus to camp with younger kids

# 4. Team Goal With Community

• Use ministry skills in the midst of school, work, and neighborhoods.
• Continue to meet as a group to share concerns and issues you are aware of supporting and helping to find resources to guide each other.
• Provide listening and prayer support after tragic events.
• Help with after school programs for younger children.
• Open the church building after a teen death for sharing and prayer.
• Volunteer with a hospital’s Chaplin to visit on the children’s wing.
• Work with the police Chaplin to assist comforting or talk with another youth
• Organize a mission trip
• Identify justice or inequality issues and organize for change

#5. Life Style Goal

Peer Ministry becomes a lifestyle. This goal is reached when participants recognize that Peer Ministry is not about setting goals, but has become a part of who they are.