My Epic Journey

Thought I would share something with you all. I met with some of our student leaders and we were discussing the role of leaders. I asked them what they look for in a leader and here is the list they came up with:

• Listeners. Good leaders don’t always have to be talking. Sometime, if not most of the time, students need to vent to someone they can trust.
• Quiet. Good leaders don’t have to announce to everyone that they are leaders or that what they are doing is leading.
• Investors. Good leaders know how to invest in a student’s life. They spend time with them, know how to communicate with them and aren’t afraid to pursue them. Good leaders don’t just lead on Sundays but invest in students throughout the week.
• Imperfect. Good leaders aren’t afraid to admit their mistake and move on. They don’t come across as perfect or look down on students who are struggling. They come alongside and encourage.

These are great qualities for great leaders. Thankfully, EPIC has great leaders who exemplify these great qualities but we can all keep learning and striving to better in the role(s) God has placed us in.

I am sure some youth pastors will argue with me, but I DO have the best leadership team serving alongside me.  I value not only their gifts as leaders but their friendship as well.

I don’t know about other youth pastors, but for me, my team becomes my closest friends.  We do life and ministry together. 

Because of their unique role in my life I want to make sure that the time I am giving them in leadership training is not just about the students, but about their lives as well.  I want to know what they are thinking, what struggles they are going through and what accomplishments they are celebrating.

Here are simple ways I want to invest in my leader’s lives:

1.  Gifts

I want to know my leaders’ spiritual gifts.  What they are blessed with?  Are the gifts developed and been used in their life before?  Are there other gifts they have that they may not be using?

2.  Family

As a pastor, my family graciously serves alongside of me.  My wife is my partner and without her I would be completely ineffective as a minister.  God has blessed me tremendously with her.  Because of that, my children are excited about serving alongside their dad and hang out with their teenage friends.

Naturally, I want my leaders to feel the same freedom to serve as a family.  When we have activities, my kids and the kids of my leaders are running around enjoying each other and the students of our ministry.  I don’t want to take my leaders away from their family.  I want them to be together, serving together.

With that in mind, I am always trying to make sure my leaders’ family is doing well.  Are they balancing ministry and family effectively?  Do their children or spouse resent the fact they serve in the student ministry?  What can I do to help serve their family as a whole?

3.  Accountability

Though we keep each other accountable in the top two areas, there are other areas we try to make sure we are all doing well in.  It is imperative that my leadership team not only know that we are a team, but that we are a family as well.  What comes with that is expectation to live life in check with others.

There are other ways I try to invest in my leaders, but these are very important to me right now.

To my leaders, I love you like family, and in some ways even more!!!!!!!