THE POWER OF LETTING STUDENTS LEAD

As I walked into the store, I heard my name: “Chris!”
It was one of my former students, home from college for the weekend. He’d been part of a small group I once led—curious, kind, and always asking good questions.

When I asked how things were going, he grinned.
“I have two trucks now!”

In the parking lot sat two landscaping trucks with his logo on the side. In just three years, he’d gone from mowing lawns with a push mower to running his own small business with a growing team—all while in college.

Every time I see him, I’m reminded: you’re never too young to do something amazing.

One of my favorite parts of ministry has always been helping young people unlock their potential as leaders. While I can’t take credit for his success—or for many others who’ve gone on to do great things—I’ve seen how the Church can shape the next generation of leaders when we trust them, mentor them, and celebrate them.

Even if your ministry feels stretched thin, or you don’t have an official “student leadership council,” you can still build a culture of leadership by focusing on three simple practices.

GIVE THEM THE KEYS

In Growing Young, Kara Powell, Brad Griffin, and Jake Mulder describe keychain leadership as one of six essential strategies for helping young people discover and love the Church. They write:

“If you are willing to entrust your keys to young people, they will trust you with their hearts, their energy, their creativity, and even their friends.” (Powell 55)

Giving away “the keys” means trusting young people with real responsibility—planning a service project, running the slides at Mass, or organizing a small-group night. It’s not about filling slots; it’s about giving ownership.

Yes, it’s risky. But even when things don’t go as planned, there’s a chance to teach resilience, humility, and growth. Trust builds confidence—and confidence invites commitment.

WALK WITH THEM AS MENTORS

Training videos and handouts have their place, but leadership is best learned through apprenticeship. Invite a student to shadow you—let them experience the pace, the pressure, and the joy of ministry in real time.

They might be nervous the first time they step up, but your presence gives them courage. You don’t have to have a perfect mentoring plan. You just have to show up and model what faithful leadership looks like.

Apprenticeship slows us down, and that’s often the hardest part. But slowing down isn’t wasted time—it’s an investment. When we mentor others, we don’t just make more leaders; we become better leaders ourselves.

CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

I often hear, “Chris, the teens never show up.”
But when they do show up—when they serve, lead, or take initiative—we have to notice it.

Celebration isn’t about handing out gold stars. It’s about investment. Every word of encouragement, every handwritten note, every new opportunity communicates, “You matter, and what you do makes a difference.”

One of the best investments I ever made was taking our student leaders to a summer or fall conference each year. They came back energized, better equipped, and with a deeper sense that the Church believed in them. That’s what celebration does—it multiplies passion and purpose.

No matter the size of your ministry, you can empower young people to live out God’s mission through leadership.

Start small.
Give them the keys.
Walk with them.
Celebrate every step.

And watch how God uses their faith and creativity to build something beautiful.

If you’re looking for practical ways to train and form your student leaders, check out M2GO. Inside you’ll find videos, training kits, and downloadable templates to help both adults and teens grow in leadership.