Ministry

Adult Volunteers too old to be effective in Junior High Ministry?

By jgiroux ⋅ September 17, 2008 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Today I was reading the Globe & Mail, a national newspaper in Canada and I came across an interesting article about a pilot project in BC that pairs students up to teach each other the values of a healthy lifestyle.  I’ve included the opening paragraphs from the article below but I thought the quote from the grade 7 student was really telling.  I of course make the leap to Junior High ministry and wonder how true this might be there as well.  When we recruit adults to be involved in our programming do we recruit too old and is that possible?  How does multi-generational mentorship work itself out if this story is accurate?  Is there a place for older adults in junior high ministry.  Some questions to ponder for sure. 

Ben Eaton runs a lot in order to stay fit. He limits his consumption of junk food to a couple of bites a week. And he figures high self-esteem is a key to lifelong happiness.

Sounds like Ben has been indoctrinated by Men’s Health magazine. But Ben is 12 years old - and along with his peers at West Sechelt Elementary on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, learned all those strategies for leading a long, healthy life … from other kids.

“Sometimes your teacher can be quite boring and ranting on,” says Ben, who is in Grade 7 at the school of 195 students. “I think for little kids, learning is better from someone that’s older, but not like an adult.”

Read Full Article Here