I just wanted to take a minute and say thank you.

Thank you for the ways you invest in your teens week in and week out. You show up on Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, school lunches, mission trips, weekend retreats, and everything in between—juggling a thousand little details and making it look easy. And I know you don’t do it for the accolades or the praise (although you deserve both). You do it because you believe: You believe in the God who called you to this crazy, beautiful ministry, and you believe in those teenagers He’s placed in your path.

I know that youth ministry is not always a glamorous gig – I mean, it really never is. But some days, it’s downright messy. Like, I mean literal messes (ones that you often get in trouble for). But beyond the spilled sodas and the late-nights, I know there are deeper messes you step into, the kind you can't just mop up with paper towels. You step into the brokenness of teens who are wrestling with their worth, their identity, and their faith. You sit with them in their darkness, journey with them through their chaos, and speak hope into their world.

You do all this not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it. You know what? The teens see it too. They see you showing up, even when it’s hard, even when you’re running on fumes. They notice when you’re there to celebrate their victories and when you’re there to just listen after a rough week. Whether they say it or not, they feel seen – because YOU help them feel seen. And there’s something sacred about that—a teenager feeling seen in a world that often looks right past them.

Never doubt that you are making a real impact: You’re helping teens feel truly seen, known and loved.

So, thank you. Thank you for the late nights, the early mornings, the conversations that run longer than you planned, the extra hours you've spent waiting for parents to pick that last kid up. Thank you for the prayers whispered on their behalf, for all the seeds you plant that you might not even see bear fruit. Thank you for your laughter, your willingness to look silly in front of a crowd of teenagers, and for your unwavering commitment to lead them closer to Jesus. The Kingdom is better because you’re in it.

As you gear up for another round of ministry—whatever that looks like this week—I hope you take a moment to breathe, to rest, and to remember that what you’re doing matters. You’re making a difference. And you’re not alone. We’re cheering you on and praying for you.

If there's anything we can do to help you or your ministry, email us at hello@projectym.com.

Michael Marchand
President
ProjectYM