Aron Otremba @ Maltby Assembly

Aron Otremba says that one of the most important lessons he’s learned in his internship at Maltby Assembly of God is that youth ministry “isn’t all up on stage.”

In fact, Aron, a Youth Ministries major at Northwest, found that all the behind-the-scenes work youth pastors do really determines the quality of their leadership. Throughout Aron’s internship, Andy Geer, the Associate Pastor of Students at Maltby Assembly, has given Aron many opportunities to take part in the daily work of a youth pastor.

Aron leads a senior high Bible study, directs the drama team, plays in the worship band, oversees the security team, and speaks each month at the weekly youth service.

Aron has learned that one critical responsibility is preparing youth to become leaders. And Aron has learned that emerging leaders need encouragement.

“Pastor Andy has told me that he wouldn’t be able to do certain things if I wasn’t there, and it is the same with the people who are doing the things that I don’t see. They are all important,” Aron says.

“It is important to keep your volunteers feeling encouraged.”

As a small-group
leader and drama director, Aron has been able to watch students grow as leaders. Last summer, the youth of Maltby Assembly held a Time to Care “home missions” outreach, with community service, children’s ministries, and drama.

Aron says about one of his projects for Time to Care: “I took ten kids and taught them an illustrated message, and they performed it after rehearsing for only four days.”

Aron continues to be encouraged by the spiritual growth in these students, and he believes that their involvement in this drama was a reason for this growth. A young man who attends Aron’s small group is a particularly noteworthy example for Aron of how the students grew through last summer’s ministry experience: “After that [the student] really made a decision to follow God and learn more about him,” Aron says.

“It is encouraging for me to keep doing what I am doing when we see the result in even one student.”