In Depth:  Jo Horn

Jo Horn hands over EN's Youth Leaders' column to Roj Fawcett by conducting his interview for the job in the full glare of publicity . . .

Full-time youth worker: to be or not to be?

If you've ever thought about being a full-time youth worker, or your church is employing one, or thinking about doing so then read on. Here we've interviewed a real, live full-timer to give you an idea of what sort of thing is involved. It sheds light on what volunteer youth leaders are doing in your church, too. So as you read, think through what you could be praying for your youth leaders, voluntary or paid, and think of ways in which you could support them.

It's the question few of us youth leaders dare to ask: when's the right time to pack it in? When is it wise before God to call it a day in running your youth and children's group?

Such a question is likely to generate a number of responses: which of the following would you agree with?

The Bible lays down the pattern of asking questions as a way of finding out about Jesus and for growing in a relationship with him.

In Deuteronomy 6.20 and Exodus 12.26 it shows how God urged people to live in such a way to deliberately provoke questions from their children so that they could learn about what God had done. And in Colossians 4.6 and 1 Peter 3.15 Christians are encouraged to be ready to answer people's questions about Jesus. It is clear that questioning is to be encouraged because it shows curiosity and a hunger to learn, a desire to know God.

Know anyone with a camping stove stashed away somewhere?

It could be a valuable evangelistic tool this month. Oh no! Just when you thought it was safe to read a youth column, someone's mentioned the 'e' word.

The next time you hear someone say that young people are the church of tomorrow, jab them in the ribs. Very hard. Twice. If there are young people in your church at the moment, they are the church of today. They might be the leaders of the church of tomorrow, but right now, they are the church of today.

After all, if they are Christians, they are part of God's family, now. God doesn't give them hoops to jump through. They don't have to wait until they are 18, or 21, or have got married and had children, or been baptised, or confirmed, or have been to church a certain number of Sundays-on the trot.