advocates
Get Your Ministry Buzz Going
Are there people in your church that don’t know about your youth ministry? Are there parents and teenagers that don’t know? I used to get annoyed...
Ten hours in a car with five teenagers might sound like someone’s nightmare, but for me, it’s worth the investment. Every year I’m looking for ways to develop our teenagers into leaders. Taking them to the Student Leadership Conference in Granger Indiana is a part of it, but only a part.
Pouring into the next generation of leaders and disciples takes energy, time, and money. The challenge many of us face with building a healthy student leadership culture is that it can feel clunky. We send them to events, build excitement but drops off a few weeks later. That’s because student leadership is more than an event, Askit also means:
PREPARING YOURSELF TO WORK WITH THEIR IDEAS
You want teens to step up and not only serve but invest in the local parish. Asking them for their ideas is great until they share with you an idea that doesn’t stick. Why doesn’t it hold? Maybe it challenges you, conflicts with your plans or isn’t great.
When teens share with you their ideas, it puts you in a situation where you accept them reluctantly or create rejections, which doesn’t feel great for either party. But, those aren’t the only two choices. When it comes to teenagers and their ideas, you can also choose to coach them through it.
Talk to them about the limitations or consequences. Ask them about what resources you would need them to acquire and who they could get on board. Lastly, don’t be afraid to let them take the idea and run with it even if it scares you. Their idea could be the push you need to take your leadership to a new level.
GIVE THEM A CLEAR OBJECTIVE AND GET OUT OF THE WAY
If you want teens to lead, you need to be clear and inviting. And being direct is critical. Tell them that you want them to step up, especially the teens you see as potential leaders. Let them know you see big things for their life and then give them practical ways they can explore and live those out in your parish.
You can’t provide an endless list, but be sure there are ones where teens can live out.
MAKE LEADERSHIP AN ONGOING INVESTMENT
If you plan to send teens to a conference, then you won’t get a lot out of that investment. Cultivating leadership in your ministry takes an ongoing strategy where you meet regularly to not only discuss the ministry but work through leadership principles. That involves:
- Identifying what a healthy leader and disciple looks like
- Introducing them to leaders inside and outside of their church who are worth following
- Inviting them to be a part of projects that challenge them
It takes work, but the fruit is valid. If you are looking for some dynamic resources, check out LeaderTreks.
HOLD THEM TO THE HIGH STANDARDS THEY DESERVE
We tend to short change teens and their ability to raise the bar. As leaders, we need to communicate the vision and what we hope for from the next generation. If they succeed, we reward and applause their efforts. If they fail, we walk with them through what didn’t work.
Asking teens to plan a project, show up on time, and follow through on goals is necessary to building a leadership culture. Don’t hold back even if you are nervous about the results. With every opportunity, your ministry will grow.
It’s a beautiful experience to watch teens grow into leaders. It’s going to push you, but it’ll also help you take your leadership up a notch. You’ll gain more patience, learn how to communicate clearly, and bring new energy into the life of your parish.
What does your strategy for developing student leaders look like?
