Peer Ministry :: Adult Facilitator Support

Student Interviews of Churches that are Using Peer Ministry

#20 Interview APR, 2005
Kinsmen Lutheran Church, Houston, TX
Interview with Neil Christians
By: Chris Swanson

Tell me a little bit about your church:

We have about 2200 members, 2 full time pastors and a group of directors that includes the pastors, a director of music, myself (youth ministry), and a business director. We are located in a suburban setting, and our church is kind of unique in that half the people are middle to upper class and the other half are middle-lower class.

How are you using the Peer Ministry curriculum at your church?

We teach a Wednesday night Bible study that uses a 4 year rotation for curriculum and we basically just incorporated the Peer Ministry lessons into that. The activities like “fish bowls” really get the kids to interact and the homework gets them thinking about how to live out the Gospel message in their own lives.

Why do you think your church needs Peer Ministry?

Peer Ministry isn’t age specific, it’s really for anyone. But I think it’s important for high schoolers to learn these lessons because most adults don’t even have these skills! How to ask open ended questions, how to listen, how to approach authority figures are things adults struggle with too, and we’re actually trying to start a small group for adults to go through the curriculum.

What parts of the lessons are most effective?

I would say the creativity of the lessons – how they are interactive and activity oriented. That’s the key with kids today, get them involved. I think the homework helps them put that into practice, but there needs to be some accountability between the students.

What is most exciting for you?

It’s exciting to see the light bulb come on – the “Ah Ha!” when they realize what they’ve been doing wrong in situations with their friends and what the right way is – how to guide their friends decisions instead of telling them they need to this or that.

Do you invite the kids to bring friends to participate?

Yeah, we encourage them to bring friends to the Bible studies, but there gets to be problems with learning the skills since you build on each week. The same goes for the kids that drift in every couple of weeks or are inconsistently attending, and the kids that don’t do the homework each week. We see the kids that come regularly and do the homework really start to get it.

In what ways have you seen the students grow?

They seem to be more involved throughout the church, like with synod gatherings. They are taking on more leadership roles and it builds their confidence through the years.

What are examples of growth in relation to their families?

The lesson on dealing with authority figures has helped them talk to their parents and teachers – like how to ask their parents for the car keys instead of demanding them.

Does the congregation notice any difference with the kids?

I think they can see the kids more involved in leadership roles.

What is an example of the students using Peer Ministry for service?

Well last fall a girl who was kind of on the fringes in a sense was talked into a leadership role by another girl, as a team sort of. Then it turned out that the second girl had to stop leading for some other reasons, leaving the first girl in charge. At the beginning of the year she was like, “I can’t do this!” and now she is totally comfortable leading on Wednesday nights.

Some of our other regular attendees are being asked to help with things like junior high lock-ins as well.

What are some hopes and goals that you have for your group?

My hope is that Peer Ministry gives them a foundation to start being a guide instead of a fixer.

My goal is that they learn how to share the Gospel with people who need to hear it, and that they build life skills. And that they recognize their call to ministry in one form or another.

What information would you pass on to someone that wants to start Peer Ministry?

I’d share how they can help them reach their goals. I’d ask first is what is helpful for them? One thing I would be sure to find out, is “Why? What do they want to accomplish?”

Something I think about is the age of the group – how can you plug the peer ministry skills into their family and in the house. I also think about high school students – how to partner with school or other organizations and clubs to get them to step outside their “God box.” You want them to be able to live out the Gospel message and be equipped to do pastoral care in any part of their lives.