When they turn against you

It is a part of ministry, professional and volunteer, that we sometimes are attacked. Sometimes viciously, without warning and reason. Yes, sometimes we bring it on ourselves, but sometimes it is unwarranted, but hurts nevertheless.
Sometimes the attack comes from a youth having to make a break from you and/or the program. I've addressed this phenomenon briefly in: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4916279693530706050&pli=1#editor/target=post;postID=6308638393153009265;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=7;src=postname
But how to handle an attack?

• Martyrdom goes with the territory. Faithful Christians have always suffered, at least a little. You are in great company.
• Keep in mind the adage: “The great thing about being a martyr in this era is that they don't use real arrows.” You will survive.
• Such attacks will always peter out eventually. They take too much energy and concentration. Can you outlast it? Sometimes survival is simply a matter of keeping going in spite of it.
• Be careful not to take your pain out on others: spouse, the youth, whomever.
• Fighting back is rarely valuable or productive. Only if other people, such as the youth, are being hurt should you respond and respond only to what is hurting the others.
• You may need to take a weekend or week off to get away and heal.
• Analyze the situation. What brought it on? What solutions are there? Is it worth fighting back or ignoring it?
• When the problem fades, forgiveness is, of course, called for (darn!). This isn't easy but may make a big difference for your ministry in the future. You need to be that person's minister no matter what. I have had some of the most nasty attacks from people that eventually became important to my program.