Youth ministry requires us to walk alongside young people and share life with them. This is a valuable lesson that Jason and Clarita, 24 and 23, learned throughout their time of doing youth ministry. As graduates of YFC Lebanon’s Leaders in Training (LIT) program (2024 cohort), in this interview, they share their experiences and the impact they’ve had on young people.
Q: Can you tell us about your ministry?
Jason: I’ve been serving youth for quite a while at True Vine Church in Zahle. I’m also a worship leader and serve at a school that provides non-formal education to refugees, also run by the church.
Clarita: I teach math at our church’s school, working with Syrian kids up to fifth grade, though some of my students are older teens. I love serving with youth because it gives me the chance to build relationships with them.
Q: What were the most important lessons you learned at LIT?
Clarita: I learned how to make fun a core part of my interactions with youth. When young people enjoy themselves, they open up more easily leading to deeper conversations about the Gospel. I learned to pay attention to the shifting moods of young people, which can be signs of deeper struggles.
Jason: I realized how essential it is to have structure and assign roles in ministry. Instead of trying to do everything at once, dividing responsibilities makes everything run more smoothly and allows for better teamwork.
Clarita: On a personal level, LIT pushed me outside my comfort zone. I never imagined myself leading a talk in front of a group, but at LIT camp, I did just that. It was a turning point that helped me overcome my fear of public speaking and grow in confidence as a leader.
Q: How did you apply what you learned at LIT?
Clarita: Jason and I volunteered at AXIS Youth Center for a while, putting our training into practice. It was an amazing experience. We always looked forward to being with the teens, joking around with them, and simply sharing life. But what stood out to us was how seriously they took the spiritual sessions.
Jason: Some of our best moments were when youth felt comfortable enough to open their hearts to us and share their struggles. That’s when we truly saw the impact of simply being present in their lives.
Q: Can you share a story of how your ministry has impacted a young person?
Clarita: Most of the youth I’ve had the chance to disciple are from the school where I teach. Recently, the Lord has used me to bring four teenagers to Himself, all from a non-Christian background.
Jason: One of my students was a teenager from a Muslim background. Instead of asking questions out loud during the Bible classes I gave, he would write them down on pieces of paper, and after class, we would discuss them. Eventually, he told me, “I want to follow Jesus.”
Q: What are your prayers and hopes for the future?
Jason & Clarita: We’re excited about youth ministry and are praying for the Lord to show us where to go next. Youth ministry isn’t easy; it requires a lot of dedication because you need to share life with them, be there for them, and create a space where they feel safe enough to open up. We’re praying for more opportunities to share the Gospel with young people and for the Lord to guide our next steps.