Leadership and Faith: How to influence the youth

As a new leader, you may feel overwhelmed by the pressure to begin constructing, managing and developing your organization immediately. It is not easy to lead any group, but it is especially challenging when it consists primarily of teenagers and young adults. Teenage years are challenging for anyone, but Christian teens living in a secular society face unique challenges. To succeed as a leader, you must be ready to face challenges you never imagined.

Know the Job Description. As a leader, you have the same responsibilities as a parent, with the added challenge of dealing with a group of adolescents. Knowing your personality and how it influences your work is crucial if you want to achieve your full potential at work. If you are the hands-on type of leader, you probably will not have to delegate much; if you are more of the hands-off type, you will need to find capable adults and youth leaders to assist you. The key to success is self-awareness and professional competence.

Build Success. Knowing the definition of success is essential to achieving it and avoiding failure. Your youth group will be like the Israelites in the desert if you do not have a plan for where you want to take them. Having a defined goal will give your team direction and strengthen your bonds. Without a strategy, you will never reach your full potential despite your abilities. If you have a preconceived notion of what success entails, you may want to reevaluate that notion once you have achieved your objective. The term “success” can refer to anything from a rise in attendance to the rescue of a certain number of young people. If you do not know where you want to take your ministry, it is doomed to sputter indefinitely.

Improve Every Day. You, too, are a never-ending creation in the making. It is easy to lose sight of personal growth once you have established yourself professionally as you focus on expanding your Youth Ministry. Read blogs and articles on youth ministry, make time for daily devotions, and never stop seeking knowledge and wisdom. Arrogance leads to failure, while humility leads to success. It is easier to think you know everything than to admit you do not. The Lord has blessed you with the responsibility of leading others, which is never an easy task. That much authority is not to be taken lightly. It is easier to make mistakes than to do your job properly, and there will be times when you will feel like you have done more wrong than right. You and your ministry will get where you need to be if you keep your faith in God and remain devoted.

Creating Leaders. When starting as a leader, it can be tempting to take on everything yourself. Whatever your method of leadership may be, it is a mistake to try to handle everything on your own. Many newcomers make the same mistake, and as a result, they quickly become exhausted and useless. The key to leading a successful leadership campaign is surrounding yourself with other capable leaders. Look for young people who are spiritual and capable of joining the group as volunteers. It is easier for teenagers to connect with someone their age. If you are a group leader, it is a good idea to identify spiritually mature teens to serve as Youth Leaders. You will achieve two goals at once by encouraging members of your flock to take on leadership roles: (1) they will become more invested in the group, and (2) they will learn important lessons in stewardship and service.

Thus, every member of the human race, regardless of gender, can be considered a leader if their community acknowledges them as having assumed a position of authority and influence to direct, motivate, or inspire others.