- We believe that empowered leaders serve the church best.
- We promise to entrust our youth leader with the youth ministry.
What makes a volunteer a true leader?
Your youth leader is likely to be in their position because of their natural passion and abilities for ministering to young people. They are likely a natural leader in this capacity. However, their leadership interests and skills are not necessarily enough to ensure they have been given true leadership. The key word here is “given.” Leadership abilities are possessed, but leadership itself is given.
Part of giving leadership to your youth leader is highlighting their role within the church. Volunteer leaders of key ministries should be recognisable just like paid staff leaders would be. Little things like being listed as a ministry leader in the church directory or website can make a huge difference. Encouraging the youth leader to share from the pulpit or the church newsletter can also help establish them as a leader in the church.
Sometimes churches fall into the trap of only giving volunteers a task rather than giving them ownership. It is only when volunteers are given true authority that they are freed to think outside the box, bringing all of their creativity and giftedness to the table. It is in the best interest of the young people and the youth ministry team if their leader is empowered to lead.
However, different people have differing opinions on how the youth ministry should be. The youth leader will not be able to make everyone happy all the time. When critical attitudes or complaints about the youth ministry surface, can your youth leader trust that you “have their back?” If the youth leader knows they have the trust of the church leadership, this enables them to provide real direction for the youth ministry rather than pandering to the loudest voices.
Questions to consider
- How aware is your church congregation of who has leadership over the youth ministry?
- Has your youth leader been given the necessary authority to make the week-to-week decisions to lead the youth ministry?
- To what extent does the youth leader feel you “have their back?”
Ideas to help you meet this promise
- Ensure that the youth leader’s details are on the church website and other key sources of information such as the church directory and church notices.
- Provide opportunities for the youth leader to share news about the youth ministry with the wider church (such as spoken announcements, the church newsletter, etc.)
- Annually dedicate or commission your youth leader (along with other volunteer ministry leaders such as Sunday School teachers) in front of the congregation.
What your church needs to do
- The church needs to plan to take two actions in the coming year related to this promise. Those actions do not necessarily need to be the suggestions made above. They can also include things that the church has already done previously and is planning to continue to do in the coming year.