How Young is Too Young

[KeckCreative]

I've recently got asked by an 11 year old to volunteer in help run the multimedia/lights for services. Not wanting to squelch the positive attitude of service to the church, I've said yes. Naturally I'm not going to let him go at it by himself (and there is always two people in the booth). I'm curious about the ages of volunteer staff of others. What is the youngest assistant you have on your team? Advice for best approach if it doesn't work out?

[zactommo]

I started helping out when I was 10 (with sound, because projectors and the like weren't the norm then) and was running sound by myself when I was 14 I think, from memory. So age, in itself is not the issue. It is weather they are actually any good or not, and weather they have the right attitude towards the job.

[katanna]

For me it comes down to one word: "maturity". I have had youth run the booth before with great results, but I have also had youth trash the sound booth. (I once came in and a youth had torn a Styrofoam cup into pea sized pieces and left the pieces spread out on the floor.)

I am the Director of Media Ministry at our church, and at age 25 I am the youngest person on our team. However just today we had two youth "tour" the sound booth and they are planning on joining the team, so I am looking forward to adding some youth on the team! (Pun intended.)

Matthew

[petereit]

I attended a mega-church in the midwest that started their television ministry run by a 14-year-old. At 16 he was producing such high quality television commercials for the church that businesses in the region started hiring him to do their commercials instead of the local TV station. About that same time the television show went international through Sky Angel. The kid was GOOD!

[[Admin] skstarkiller]

One of our media guys started at 11. Maturity is key. I think it also helps them learn the importance of paying attention.

[USCBigRed]

I have several guys on our team that are only 10-11-12. They mainly run cameras and if you can keep the chatter down, they work out great!

Wonder if they think it makes them look cool to be doing what they are doing. Either way, they love it and never miss a Sunday!!

Austin

[Paris MkVI]

Bless you for taking on this challenge!

We use a training technique most folks know - we call it "quadranting". Once they master a quadrant, you move them to the next one. Note the transition from teaching to coaching. I use that as a transition from giving information to asking questions and having them give me the information.

Quadrant 1 - You do and teach, they observe.
Quadrant 2 - You do most and they do a little while you teach.
Quadrant 3 - You do a little and they do most while you coach.
Quadrant 4 - You stand back and they do. You only coach as absolutely needed.

Then you release them to serve under the same authority as other team members.

I think detailed training like this will help you find out whether it will work out before they join the team. You will learn a great deal about their maturity level, attention span and willingness to sacrifice in order to serve.

Of course, team members this age typically don't understand things like maintaining margin in life. They tend to overcommit themselves and leave inadequate time to do all the things they want to do. They are also completely at the mercy of others for transportation and such, so we have to build margin and forgiveness in for some of these issues.

I would not add someone this age to a team unless I was in communication with the parents. With their involvement and blessings, I would give the child a shot.

[Nathan J]

I'll ditto the other thoughts - it's all about maturity. Some 11 year olds will be tremendous, while others won't have the focus to keep at it for 30 seconds.

I too was very young (probably 10 or 11) when I started helping with the transparency projector at my church, and if they'd told me I was too young, I doubt I'd have spent the next decade eating, sleeping, and breathing media there!

[JLR]

We have young folks 10 and up, in fact we have 8 who are under 15.
We use a teaching method very simular to the quadrant approach listed only we do a 5th point and that is for them to become the coach. If the young person has the maturity they will grow and thrive becoming a very useful and productive helper... If they don't they will usually frustrate themselves by about step 2... The step 5 gives them a chance to teach what they know to another young person and really solidifies their knowledge. We always have at least one adult in the booth as much to make everyone else feel comfortable as anything LOL. Maturity is the key to unlock the door, training in a way that creates the next generation of CMN participants is the turning of the door knob!

[KeckCreative]

Thanks for the great feedback. The dad is encouraging the son, who is certainly interested. Here's sort of a funny side note. After taking with the dad and son together, it was just me and the dad and he said "you'll probably find that he's smart, he knows he smart and will want to tell you how to do it." The dad was sort of joking and sort of serious. I just smiled and nodded and wondered what did I just get myself into.

[petereit]

The best thing you can do for this young man is to mentor him in the art of humility and teach him obedience and a reverent respect for authority. Look what happened to Anakin. (Only half joking.)

[theatre4jc]

I tried to start a mentoring/coaching program at my church with my Middle School students. Out of 300 students I found 2 that were interested. They were learning timing and anticipating cues. I had them set up on presets with moving lights and lightjockey. They weren't great by any means, but were willing to learn, and more importantly excited to learn. But because they had only about 2 months under them, the youth pastor decided he didn't want them learning during the services, but instead wanted me to bring them in on Saturdays to show them the system. I tried telling him that without the service environment, and stress, you can't get the same education. So he ended my program. I'm about to go to bat for my boys so they can continue to serve. Funny thing is I had an adult learning (and doing worse than the kids) but there was no problem having her continue to run the services.

If you have anyone that is willing to learn, no matter the age, give them a shot. It's probably how most of us fell in love with media, someone let us try. It may be hard on you, be a headache at times, and might take away a little from the quality but if you get them while they are young you can spark a life changing passion in them. I learned what servanthood was first because I loved production. We serve thanklessly each day and usually only hear about our work if something goes wrong. Before I became a believer I learned how to serve selflessly because of being a tech. Once I found Jesus it was a natural extension to serve others as Christ taught us to serve.