I had the pleasure of being the youth leader of my church's youth group for two years.  I never thought it would be something I could do, but I was the one 20 something around in church and my pastor wanted to see where my heart was with the idea.  Unfortunately, most of my friends from my age group in church had moved on or were no longer active, and I figured the pastor was just desperate- I never thought I could be the right person for the job.    Sometimes you're just like Samuel, though- you hear the call to take on a new endeavor, but you just don't understand what's going on.  With some encouragement from my pastor, I agreed to take up the task,
but it definitely took a lot of spiritual encouragement as well!

The group ended up being wonderful. They have an annual retreat and an annual missions trip, and in between the discussion groups and service projects were great.  My favorite thing to do every year was (and still is) baking cookies for the shut-ins and then going caroling to their doorstep (or even bedside). Being with such enthusiastic members of the church who really want to live the teachings of Christ- really want to love their neighbors as they love themselves, is absolutely inspiring.

The pastor is very open about letting them take charge in a lot of the aspects of worship, too. In fact, this past Maundy Thursday was organized by the youth group, and it was one of the more transforming services I have ever attended.

Any church that has a  youth group should definitely put them to full work for the Lord.  Even if the elders of your church might be stuffy, just dwell on Paul's inspired words to Timothy- "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in
purity" 1 Timothy 4:12

I used to be in a youth group when I still was going to the same church . I currently am not in a youth group but I may be in one in the future. I am looking for a church right now. I enjoyed going on youth summer retreats they were really fun and also I miss going twice a week to church just in general. I can't wait until we find a church again.

MattyIce : That sounds like it was really fun! One of my youth groups does projects once in a while and the other one has a Fall Retreat and a Winter Retreat each year.

I've been inviting my best friends to youth group, and it made it even better for me as well!

My youth group does a basketball game called Knockout every week, and that's one of the most fun parts of it!

Dfsg : That goes to show that even if you don't think you can, you really can.

I'm proud of you for being the youth group leader at your church. Keep it up, and God bless you!