Student Interviews of Churches that are Using
Peer Ministry
#17 Interview JAN, 2000
Bethlehem Lutheran, Minneapolis, MN
Interview with Pastor Rob Norris-Weber
By: Carrie Anderson
Urban
Size of Congregation: 1,000 people
5 pastors
Do you have a Youth staff?
No, all of the adults that help me are volunteers.
How many people are involved in your youth program?
45 adults and 12 High School students.
Peer Ministry Description
How many trained adult facilitator work with Peer Ministry?
3 adult leaders, plus 2 that work with the advanced Peer Ministry
group.
How many youth are trained in Peer Ministry?
13 youth are trained in Peer Ministry. 9 youth are trained in
Peer II, the Advanced Peer Ministry.
How long has your church been involved in Peer Ministry?
Seven years.
Where and at what time of day did your training take place?
The adults take the training from the Youth & Family Institute.
The youth can be trained either by going to a Peer Ministry summer
camp or by attending Wednesday evening meetings.
Ministry Uses
What are some of the ways that Peer Ministers have used their
training?
The Advanced Peer Ministers work with the Junior High helping
with the confirmation class and with their social and service
projects. Some of the Peer Ministers work with the High school
students as small group facilitators.
How has Peer Ministry effected the youth program?
The Peer Ministry program has provided a foundation for the youth
program. Every youth who wishes to have a leadership position
is asked to be trained in Peer Ministry. It helps them to lead
a group, but also provides a willingness to share their self and
their faith.
What do you think is one of the biggest things the Peer Ministers
have gained?
They have been empowered to be ministers to others. They are able
to listen to their peers and help them go to adults when the problem
is too big. They understand how to reach out to others in need
or those who just need a friend.
What stories illustrate what Peer Ministry can do?
We had a student who was failing school and he also had major
behavioral problems.He was then trained as a Peer Minister, and
the group also treated him as they would any normal child no matter
what he may have done in the past. He also worked at a camp with
4th through 6th graders.
The next year he began to have the same problems with school
and his mother asked Pastor Norris-Weber to attend with her a
meeting with the school counselor. They told him what kind of
kid he was being with Peer Ministry and working with younger students.
The school counselor said that they must be talking about a different
student, but Pastor Norris-Weber said the difference was that
Peer Ministry had given this student a purpose. They gave him
an opportunity to be who he wanted to be.
Pastor Norris-Weber says that he tries not to conform his youth
to any certain form, but to tap into their passions and what they,
the youth, are good at.
What challenges or frustrations have you experienced?
One of the frustrations is the length of the curriculum because
many high school students have very busy schedules. Some go through
the training and then don't practice what they have learned. Others
fake their way through the training and really don't learn how
to be Peer Ministers. Another frustration is adult leaders who
don't have the time to be properly trained or have done a similar
training so think they should know it all.
Future Hope and Goals
What are some hope and goals you hope to see for your Peer
Ministry group?
That Peer Ministers are trained to become Advanced Peer Ministers
and also become peer leaders in the community and at school.
Are there any words of wisdom that you may offer others who
are considering beginning a Peer Ministry program?
First take the training with another person in your church so
that you have someone to share the leadership of the group with.
Encourage the youth to do their homework and to gain all that
they can from the training. Also, as the leader take chances with
sharing some of your own personal experiences.
