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Student Interviews of Churches that are Using Peer Ministry #9 Interview JAN, 2000 Suburb of Minneapolis Maple Grove's population is 52,000 along with its surrounding community. Peer Ministry Description Trained Adult Facilitators:6 Youth Trained in Peer Ministry:25 Length of Time Church involved in Peer Ministry:7-8 years • How are Peer Ministers identified and encouraged to participate? Usually the people we train are targeted who have a special gift in working with people and kids.They also open the training to anyone who is interested. • Where and at what time of the day did your training take place? Currently they are not having any training, there next time to train is in the Spring, but Tuesday nights has worked the best. • After the initial training how often and when to the Peer Ministers meet? There is no ongoing support, plus they encourage advanced training to the Peer Ministers. • What is your churches' overall goal for Peer Ministers? The churches' overall goal is to equip the Senior High kids with leadership,responsibility, and listening skills in which these kids will provide resources to help other kids who struggle with difficult issues. Ministry Uses • What are some of the ways that Peer Ministers have used their training? They have used their training in small groups, confirmation classes, Sunday School classes, retreats, daily life, day to day, and as leaders at the Senior high level. • How has Peer Ministry effected the youth program? Congregation? Community? Having some of the Senior High kids trained as peer ministers definitely help the youth program, other kids look up to them and it sometimes easier to talk to them than an adult. For the congregation and the community, it has created a welcoming atmosphere, and openness. • What do you think is one of the biggest things the Peer Minister's have gained? They have gained strong leadership, listening, observing, responsibility, and decision making skills.The more experience they have the more they keep learning and gaining from being a Peer Minister. • What challenges or frustrations have you experienced? A big challenge is to schedule the training where it fits into everybody's schedule so everyone can participate who would like to. Also to go about it in a meaningful structured way. Future Hopes and Goals • What are some of the hopes and goals you hope to see for your Peer Ministry group? To have them build their self-confidence in knowing they are really helping others and to keep using the gifts they already possess. To learn and identify through the Peer Minister's faith and to strengthen. Also to keep this program going, it has major benefits and to keep Peer Ministry continuing as it is. • Are there any words of wisdom that you may offer others who are considering beginning a Peer Ministry program? -Not to be afraid to have high expectations. Peer Ministry is not the whole youth ministry program but it adds support and improves the well-being of everything else that happens. |
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