Peer Ministry - youth online

Peer Ministry, as a program, started at Good Shepherd in
2002 with a group of 5 very committed Sr. High youth.
We got to know each other on retreat at GEV, did some
Rally Sled Racing, got our hair caught on fire, and started
talking about what it means to be a peer minister.

A Peer Minister can be simply described as one person
intentionally helping another. This can take many forms:
a listening ear, an open heart, directing another to the
right office, taking the time to meet someone new,
knowing their name, affirming positive behavior,
challenging destructive behavior and being a positive
example of the Christian life.

Peer Ministry is two-way ministry because the minister
expects to learn, receive, and be cared for as well as teach,
give, and care for others. Peer Ministers grow personally
and spiritually through sharing strengths and weaknesses,
faith and doubts, and by working together to make this
world a better place.

At lunch my friends and I say a prayer
before lunch. We usually say a prayer
or someone volunteers to say it. Each
day we get new faces at our huge
lunch table. But usually those new
faces are just the other kids who we
know or who fit in with our group.

Well, one day we had only one extra
chair at our table and a senior came
and sat with us. She was the most
popular girl in the school. We were
about to say grace when I saw a girl
sitting alone at another table. All she
had was a pretzel for lunch so I
invited her to come eat lunch with us.

As soon as she sat down my friends
looked at her, to them she was in the
"out" group. We were cool she wasn't.

I told her that at our table we say a
grace before we eat. She asked, "Can
I say it." I said, "Sure." She said a
prayer... she thanked God that I came
over to her table and brought her to
mine because she thought that today
would be her last day alive.

My friends and I helped her to see the
school counselor. Turns out that all
she needed was a friend. I became
that friend. Nothing felt more
fulfilling to me than to know that I
helped one girl from what I learned in
Peer Ministry! Thanks

-Jamie, Ohio

Peer Ministry is open to anyone who has been confirmed.
We kick off the year with a retreat in November, so if
you're a 10th grader who has just been confirmed you can
start this year. A peer minister is a person who...

Loves God.
Loves their neighbor as them self.
Is warm, genuine and empathetic.
Watches out for others.
Is honest with themselves and others.
Practices Awareness.
Is understanding and supportive.
Realizes not all problems can be solved.
Realizes that not all people want to be helped.
Know when and how to refer someone.
Welcomes outsiders into their groups.
Prays for others and their needs.

If this sounds like the type of person you work towards
being you should consider joining up. Talk to these
current/former peer ministers about what it's like:

You train your body to excel at your favorite sport.

You train your mind to excel in the classroom.

You train you hands & eyes to excel in a video game.

When do you train the most important thing you posses?
When to you train your heart & soul?

Peer Ministry is about awakening the person within you
who can be a better friend, who can help someone
through rough times, who can share God's love in real and
life changing ways.

"Peer Ministry taught me about how to
listen a lot better, help others, and be a
better friend. The experience of
meeting with all the other Peer
Ministers during training was just great.
I would recommend that others take
Peer Ministry because it makes you a
good servant, a good person, a better
friend, and someone that people
respect."

- Matt Larson, Peer Minister