http://www.volunteeryouthministry.com/2010/02/08/you-want-the-truth-heres-how-to-get-it/ Youth ministry from a volunteer perspective Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:40:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.volunteeryouthministry.com/2010/02/08/you-want-the-truth-heres-how-to-get-it/comment-page-1/#comment-2310 Andrew Burden Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:37:56 +0000 http://www.volunteeryouthministry.com/?p=4467#comment-2310 These are great tips for talking with students who have developed the facades you refer to. At least by 8th grade, in my experience. However, in my work with younger students, the most important element is to create a safe environment in which they can trust you to not hurt them when they reveal themselves to you. Younger kids wear their heart on their sleeve before they find masks to put on. Middle schoolers' first question is, "Do you like me?" while for high schoolers it's "Do I like you?" That distinction, which we each have to discern with our particular group, makes a huge difference in how we approach conversations. Have you read "Hurt" by Chap Clark? Highly recommend - hits the facade issue square on the head as it relates to high school age. These are great tips for talking with students who have developed the facades you refer to. At least by 8th grade, in my experience. However, in my work with younger students, the most important element is to create a safe environment in which they can trust you to not hurt them when they reveal themselves to you. Younger kids wear their heart on their sleeve before they find masks to put on. Middle schoolers’ first question is, “Do you like me?” while for high schoolers it’s “Do I like you?” That distinction, which we each have to discern with our particular group, makes a huge difference in how we approach conversations. Have you read “Hurt” by Chap Clark? Highly recommend – hits the facade issue square on the head as it relates to high school age.

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