help your leaders discover their place in ministry (part 2)
We believe leaders of leaders have a unique responsibility to help people discover who God has made them to be and where they can best serve within the body of Christ. It’s critical that we learn to quickly diagnose leaders who have been “forced” into a role that is not ideal for their skills and passions and “body type”.
Few people can play out of position and win. Out-of-position players tend to hurt themselves and will eventually wound the ministry. All the training and encouragement in the world won’t make them become something God didn’t create them to be.
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One way to help a person discover their “position” is to ask some simple questions like: “What is God teaching you through your current ministry? What work is God doing in you as he’s working through you in the lives of your students?”
God is doing great things THROUGH people so he can do great things IN people. If that concept is not being taught within your ministry, please consider adding it to the training of your leaders. Leaders need to understand that God is at work within them as they are working with teenagers. Pointed questions will help uncover where God is working and can strengthen leaders as well as help expose those who are playing out of position.
A leader needs to provide direction and have high expectations for those he/she is leading. This is how we encourage people to grow and move from their comfort zones. There will be times when this type of direction pushes a person too hard into being something they aren’t.
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BRAND NEW: Simply Youth Ministry Tools - Helping You Work Smarter
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That’s ok.
Occasional tension can play a huge part in someone’s discovery process. The shift in thinking is coming to understand that more “good training” isn’t always the answer. It may be time for some intentional one-on-one discussion, question asking, and repotting that person into a role that better fits how God created them. That’s ultimately what everyone wants anyway. People are most excited about ministry when they’re most effective.
Conversation
Is it just me or does TIME
Is it just me or does TIME play a role in a youth leader's responsibilities and leadership role?
I find leaders will want to do more and have a passion for something but because of work, family and everyday life, they comfortably pick what is not too demanding.
I find the leaders who have more time are easier to help plug in where they belong. Leaders like this also invest more and because that they experience those "powerful youth ministry moments" that we all long for.
I think TIME is a factor in this discussion of plugging in leaders to who they truly are as a leader. We have to call our leaders to be dedicated and make sacrifices that are keeping them from thriving and serving where they are most effective.
Thanks guys for posting these discussions. I took a month off of speaking to provide a chance for my leaders to speak and help grow their abilities. After reading your discussion yesterday and today I plan on meeting with each leader individually to see how I can plug them in where they belong.
God Bless You both!
Ryan :-)
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