AY Honors/Junior Youth Leadership/Answer Key

1. Be a Master Guide

You can download the requirements for becoming a Master Guide here: http://www.pathfindersonline.org/pdf/classwork/masterguide_recordcard.pdf

You should also contact your conference youth department to let them know that you are working on this. They may have resources to help you, and they commonly conduct the seminars required by the curriculum.

You may find additional resources at AdventSource. http://adventsource.org/search_2.aspx?search_type=all&search=master+guide&Image1.x=0&Image1.y=0

2. Read two books on junior youth leadership written in the last five years.

Of course you are free to choose any book on youth leadership you like, but here are some suggestions:

• Teaching the Faith: An Essential Guide for Building Faith-Shaped Kids by Donna J. Habenicht and Larry Burton, 2004
• Fire Up! Youth Leader Guide, Group Publishing, 2006
• Getting It Right: A Power-Packed Resource for Adventist Youth Leaders, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Youth Department, 2005

Do you know of another good book? Add it!

3. Serve in any one of the following offices:

b. Junior or Earliteen Sabbath School leader for one year.

In most Adventist churches, this office is filled by the Minsitry Development Committee (formerly called the Nominating Committee), and voted on by the church. However, if you are interested in fullfilling this requirement this way, make your willingness to serve known to your church leaders. Remember that if your church already has established leaders for these departments, they may not be willing to step aside. In this case, it may be better for you to explore other options. Remember that preserving good relations with other people is far more important than earning this honor.

c. Staff member in an active Pathfinder club for one year.

Talk to your club's director about volunteering. Rare is the club that has too many staff!

d. Staff member at a summer youth camp for a full summer.

This option is especially good for college students. Contact your conference youth director or apply at a summer youth camp.

4. Prepare a group to be invested in one of the Adventist Youth/Pathfinder classes during the current year and assist in conducting the Investiture service.

In order to meet this requirement, you must be a staff member of a Pathfinder organization. Volunteer to serve as a counselor for one of the AY classes (Friend, Companion, Explorer, Ranger, Voyager, or Guide). There are many factors that contribute to your effectiveness as an AY counselor. Above all, you should love the Lord and show that by unconditionally loving the Pathfinders in your care. This means that you will be prepared for each meeting and that you will arrive on time. It helps tremendously to make out a plan for the whole year before you start. This will ensure that you do not have to teach several major requirements in the last few weeks before Investiture. Spread those out and work on them throughout the year.

5. Know at least ten qualities of a good youth leader.

A good youth leader will be:

1. Patient
2. Loving
3. Well-prepared
4. Flexible
5. Punctual
6. Responsible
7. Mature
8. Organized
9. Merciful
10. Fair
11. Decisive
12. Enthusiastic
13. Passionate
14. Compassionate
15. Committed
16. Persuasive
17. Courageous
18. Selfless

6. Know the difference between juniors (10-12 years old) and teens (13-15 years old) in the following areas:

Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Physical emotional mental spiritual differences

7. Know principles in the proper administration of discipline to youth. Learn the fol­lowing areas of discipline:

a. Ten ways to prevent having to discipline

1. Have a plan for every minute of your Pathfinder time.
2. Make thorough preparations for every meeting
3. Establish standards of conduct and communicate them to your club
4. Make friends with your Pathfinders
5. Allow your Pathfinders to participate in decision making
6. Keep a sense of humor
7. Do not use sarcasm or ridicule
8. Acknowledge faults when they come to your attention, but avoid looking for them
9. Be fair. Avoid unequal treatment or having "pets".
10. Maintain self-control and practice patience

b. Nine ways to have balanced discipline

1. Establish fair rules and regulations
   1. Set up and use a point system.
   2. Put your rules and regulations in writing
2. Enforce the rules and regulations.
3. Apply the rules consistently.
   1. You should only have a few rules, and they should be carefully considered.
   2. If Pathfinders recognize that the rules are immutable, your Pathfinders will conform to them.
4. Present a devotional on discipline, explaining the Pathfinder Pledge and Law. Remind your Pathfinders that they have agreed to abide by the Pledge and Law.
5. Counsel and pray with your Pathfinders before administering disciplinary action.
6. Counsel and pray with unsupportive parents.
7. Explain club discipline to parents. They are more likely to support you if they understand what you are doing.

References

Pathfinder Staff Manual, chapter 4