Peer Ministry at Pax Christi is a systematic and structured program to assist in personal faith growth as disciples of Jesus Christ and to develop and use leadership skills within a ministry setting.

The ideal peer minister would attend monthly prayer and leadership training sessions, assist with faith formation sessions on a weekly basis, and be available to participate in and/or encourage the participation of others in various ministry offerings such as Bible studies, service projects, and social outings.  Additionally, this individual would be dedicated to daily prayer and Scripture reading as a means for personal faith growth.

Peer ministers may also participate in this program at varying levels of activity.  Some may not come to each monthly training, attend faith formation weekly, or participate in any other outside activities.  Some minimum standard of participation may need to be set (such as attend 2 out of 8 monthly trainings, assist with faith formation once each month, participate in one other ministry offering) to remain as an active peer minister in this program.  The personal growth of the individual will dictate the level of activity of each peer minister.

Training sessions will include topics such as Christian leadership, hospitality skills, communication skills, mentoring basics, how to pray with someone, making presentations for a group, developing your testimony, small group leadership skills, etc.

Listed below are some ideas for using our peer ministers within our ministry:

• Role model appropriate behavior and participation during faith formation sessions
• Present parts of the teaching during a session
• Create appropriate prayers/rituals for the group
• Co-lead small groups for under-classmen
• Assist adult leaders with set-up or take-down of sessions
• Offer personal testimony as a means of making the session relevant to the other youth
• Welcome youth who are alone; sit with them and encourage them throughout the session
• Invite other youth to attend
• Help with phone-calling youth to invite them to various activities beyond the faith formation sessions
• Offer feedback on planned activities or suggest additional activities
• In addition to being a regular presence at faith formation, become active in a liturgical ministry role such as lector, greeter, Eucharistic Minister, etc.
• Lead/Co-lead Bible studies either on-site or off-site
• Be the face and voice of the youth program at Pax Christi

All sessions go from 6:30-8:00pm and meet in the Garden Level youth room.  Sessions include prayer and snacks!

Oct. 6   Nice to meet ya
Nov.  3   Hearing vs. Listening
Dec. 1   Praying with Peers
Jan. 5   Leading like Jesus
Feb. 2   Large groups
Mar. 2   Your testimony
Apr. 20   Small groups
May 4   Out of the Zone