How to Volunteer like a Pro

A volunteer at Shared Lutheran Youth Ministry once told me, "I didn't know what the kids would make of me. I wasn't sure if we would have anything in common." I have heard many potential volunteers for youth verbalize the same thing over the years. They worry that they aren't cool enough or are out of touch with the latest technology and trends.

A long time ago I realized that an adult can never be as cool or trendy as a teenager, so there's no point in trying. But we can be present and attentive to youth and be genuinely interested in their lives. One of the best volunteers I ever had simply greeted young people when they showed up to group. He became one of the most beloved members of the youth program, with kids opening up about how they were doing at school and home.

In the past, the elders of the community were revered for their knowledge. The technology of modern times often has inverted the ages, with younger people demonstrating the greatest knowledge. But life is more than the latest gadget—there is still a whole host of wisdom and experience that adults have to share with youth. There are many wonderful initiatives serving youth throughout the conference that would benefit from the interest and attention of some adults. Don’t serve as you can’t—serve as you can!

"Amateurs do what they do because they love it," writes Jim Hancock in his book How to Volunteer Like a Pro: An Amateur's Guide for Working with Teenagers. "Amateurs are responsible for Wikepedia, Linux, and Firefox; amateurs conduct search-and-rescue operations and knock down structural fires in small towns; Olympic-class athletes—most of them—are amateurs. That's the sense in which I think of volunteer youth workers as amateurs, and in that sense the title 'amateur youth worker' is in no way second-class."

A rural conference like ours really owes a debt of gratitude to the many volunteers who benefit youth with their time and expertise. Often they have to learn as they go and training opportunities aren't always plentiful. A great place to start expanding their knowledge base is this book. Jim Hancock, its author, benefits the reader with anecdotes from his two decades experience in youth ministry. His writing is accessible and to-the-point.

From relating to kids and families, to organizing events, to emergency situations like hospital visits and bereavement, How to Volunteer Like a Pro is a concise guide to a number of topics. I recommend this resource for youth workers and Sunday school volunteers. I always try to get a copy in the hands of my volunteers at SLYM!