It’s not easy to be a teenager today. Teens are experiencing things many of us can’t begin to imagine some of the pressures they face, particularly with regards to how much they live their lives and connect to others through social media. Pastoral Care is often seen as a critical part of a congregation’s ministry, but often, the care of our youth is relegated to the youth pastor or youth workers, many of whom have received no formal training in pastoral care. The care of our youth and providing safe spaces to explore the questions and concerns of their lives is a critical part of youth ministry. We need to ensure that those entrusted with our youth are prepared and supported in providing the necessary level of care.
In this course, we will talk about fundamentals of effective pastoral care. This is designed such that each section may be completed in one gathering. If every section were to be completed, with the group meeting weekly, this course would take eight weeks to complete. It is also possible to complete the course in a shorter period of time by combining sections based on your team’s availability. Similarly, it could be expanded, and the focal Scripture passages—merely used here as a discussion starter, and a backdrop for the youth ministry topics— could be used as a jumping off point for a whole Bible study for each gathering. We are hopeful that the person leading this effort will feel free to adapt what is provided to their particular community’s needs.