When I first started in youth ministry, I remember attending a meeting of youth ministers and youth group volunteers. There must have been 200 people at this meeting. I was one of about 20 males in attendance. Talk about intimidating! I had never been surrounded by so many women. While I would have welcomed this situation with open arms in my high school and college days, at this particular meeting, I wanted to run away! I recall thinking: “What have I gotten myself into?”

My fiancée will attest to the fact that I am, and always have been, very intimidated by the power of women. I use the term “power” to describe the very intense “presence” and enthusiasm which are needed in the field of youth ministry. Women bring those gifts to the table. I have seen them firsthand, not only in youth group meetings, but also at conferences, workshops, and retreats. Men also bring those gifts , but they do so in different ways. It is good to have variety.

I am approached more often by women than by men with questions about how they can lend a hand with my parish’s youth ministry program. Is this a sexist scenario? Do men just not want to be part of youth ministry? Do men simply not have the time? I will answer my own questions with a resounding “No!”

So why is youth ministry full of women, and men are hard to find? I am going to stipulate that men are involved in youth ministry, they just might not hold any titles like “youth minister”, “coordinator,” or “director.” Owners of businesses, who happen to be men, have made very generous donations to my youth ministry program. Some of our youth group members’ fathers have been generous with their time when driving our kids to and from events. A man is writing this article right now and is also having a meeting with another man in a few hours to review the youth ministry program for the parish. The other man involved in this meeting is my pastor. Indeed, a good youth ministry program cannot function completely without the support of some very important men…the priests of the parish!

Men are not all that difficult to find in youth ministry. We are here; take a closer look and you will find us! And we are more than happy to work with other volunteers, both male and female, to get the job done, to serve our youth faithfully, and to continue our call to discipleship.