Some Christian workers "inspire interviews " and rejoice in them. To others, the task of counseling young people is far more duty than delight.
It is not to be expected that every minister or pastor should be a technically qualified expert or have specific psychological gifts for dealing with youth, but it is assumed that the successful pastors and workers are personally close to youth, and that they are fairly well posted on the main landmarks of wise spiritual guidance. If a worker is sensitive to attitudes and abilities, and humble within himself and prayerful about his influence over young lives, he cannot fail to be helpful in this vital area of his ministry.
The following suggestions are brought forward merely to supplement a worker's own characteristic procedure in interviews with youth regarding the problems of the Christian life. The real background for such counseling is, of course, interest in the individual, a burden for his salvation, and a genuine enthusiasm for the work of the church.
1. Make any interview as unhurried as possible. Life decisions and spiritual problems are not wisely discussed in haste, and the proverbial "long, long thoughts" of youth are often slow in achieving expression. Talk with the young person, not for two or three minutes in a hallway, but for an hour in his own home, in your study, under a shady tree, or in the sanctuary itself.
2. Break down barriers. Joining youth in their interests, recreations, and hobbies will tend to dissolve all barriers. Young people will quickly and freely confide in workers who enjoy associating with them in other than religious things.
3. Stress a task, not a profession. In advising young people regarding their lifework, the wise counselor will stress the ministry, teaching, nursing, medicine, business, etc., not as professions with their community standing, steady income, and genteel life, but rather as tasks, as opportunities to more widely serve God and our fellow men. Our young people should desire above all else to give their lives to the building of the kingdom of God in the hearts of men and women. The professions, if the interests and abilities of young people fall along those lines, have a tremendous drawing power. Let us keep our counsel on the level of true motivation. We defeat our first purpose if we dwell on externals rather than upon the desperate need of choosing a calling according to God's purpose for us.
4. Treat the interview in confidence. The confidential character of an interview should be a serious matter to the worker. Youth will not readily discuss close personal problems with a minister who does not hold such discussions in strict confidence.
5. Be specific. Young people do not usually appreciate generalities. If the worker is truly endeavoring to win the heart of a young man or young woman to God, and to create a love for the service of God, it is important that he speak frankly with him or her. Young people today expect this. They should be given definite opportunity to make specific requests for prayer and help in their own. personal lives.
6. Pray in closing an interview. Partly because our best selves are sharpened by prayer, we need God's mind working with our own to ratify all, good decisions or impressions brought about by an interview. The most important step any young:' person takes in deciding his problems in the Christian life is to pray about them. That truth should! be made explicit by informal personal sharing of prayer in every interview.
Finally, in our efforts to win the youth, who are to be the future "muscle power" of the church, is it asking too much that the one who ministers to youth should know:
Who all his young people are?
Where all his young people are?
What all his young people are?
God will help us as we step out to meet this challenge!
