by Jim LaDoux, Administrator

In 1986 I began my adventure as a paid youth worker for a large suburban Lutheran congregation in Minneapolis. It was a position about which I was passionate and for which I felt I was well-suited. It didn't take too long to realize, however, that I was in way over my head when it came to leading youth and their parents in the faith formation process. I couldn't articulate a philosophy of youth and family ministry and I hadn't considered the theological foundations on which I would base this ministry. I lacked a network of youth workers and pastors that could help me shape an effective youth ministry program. I struggled to discern how I might join other leaders in growing the ministry. In short, I lacked most of the essential elements needed to develop an effective ministry to youth and their families.

I spent 16 years at this congregation and became increasingly more effective as time went on due to attending courses at Luther Seminary and surrounding myself with pastors and youth leaders that had a track record of success and possessed a vital, growing faith. I was also a sponge for new information and read most of the youth ministry literature that was available.

I wish I had begun this venture with some concentrated training that would have immediately raised my ministry to a new level and saved me lots of frustration and misteps and my congregation lots of wasted effort and money. In hindsight, I wish I would have attended a Certification School similar to what The Youth & Family Institute now makes available to all youth workers.

The Certification School helps youth and family workers to:

• Understand and live in grace
• Know and practice basic pastoral care
• Have a clear vision of youth and family ministry
• Gain a general understanding of youth development
• Develop and model personal spiritual disciplines