Youth ministry subject of university workshop

by Tracie Simer

HENDERSON, Tenn. - On an unusually warm day, youth minister Phil Waggoner, 28, ate lunch outside with some of his former students, who now attend Freed-Hardeman University.

The Mount Juliet minister gets together with some of his students every time he comes to Henderson.

Waggoner came to attend the 72nd annual Freed-Hardeman University Bible Lectureship, which began Sunday night and continues through Friday.

This year's theme is "Behold the Lamb - John's Gospel of Belief."

The main reason the 2001 FHU graduate returns every year is so he can attend the youth ministry workshop, which is in its 15th year.

"This is a great thing because youth ministers can get burned out," Waggoner said.

"And sometimes they feel alone at their church or feel like they're fighting alone. Here, I get encouraged and build my relationship with other youth ministers. We draw strength from each other."

Waggoner has been a youth minister for seven years and has attended 10 of the youth ministry workshops. One of those lectures provided the greatest advice, he said.

"Someone said you as a youth minister are responsible to them, not for them," Waggoner said.

He was struggling and holding himself accountable when one of his students acted irresponsibly.

"I would lose sleep over it," he said. "I learned then that my responsibility is to teach them God's word. I can't force them to live it."

Chuck Morris, 34, has been the coordinator of the workshops for three years. A youth minister, Morris understands the importance of hosting a forum on this topic.

"We do a lot to encourage and equip and provide education to all youth ministers," Morris said. "We want to help them better reach the young people they're working with every day."

The two-day workshop includes everything from advice from veteran youth ministers to personal wellness tips.

The workshop is a good way for students interested in youth ministry to learn more about it, he said.

Waggoner said he always learns something new.

"Some things can get repetitive," he said. "But it's just like when you read your Bible, you get something different out of it every time. Even if it's a similar topic, a different speaker or different perspective is a benefit for me."

The above article appeared in the Tennessean on Feburary 5, 2008

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