Dear youth ministry friends,

I have a question for all of you. What does leadership look like in the church?

When people say, “Oh, they’re a born leader,” what does this mean? Typically, I’ve heard this said of the more confident, articulate individual who knows everyone, and who can lead gatherings efficiently, with an end goal in mind. (Bonus if they’re white, well-educated, and neither young nor old.)

But what about the quiet person who always lets others share first, and who thinks before they speak?

Or the behind-the-scenes do-er, who knows where the candles and the extra napkins are stored?

Or the member who hasn’t been attending long, but who brings deep perspective from other settings?

A number of years ago, I read Don Clifton’s book Strengths-Based Leadership.  This work highlights Gallup’s StrengthsFinder assessment, a tool which is the product of 30 years of research on the subject of strengths found in leadership. The book hones in on four key components to being an effective leader: knowing your strengths, investing in others’ strengths, getting people with the right strengths on your team, and understanding and meeting the needs of your constituents and followers.

Beloved of God, we know from our youth ministry training that everyone can lead something. What’s more, no one leadership strength is quantifiably better than any other. They just might be more well-suited to different settings and situations. And, more importantly, when we experience diverse leadership, we can learn to see more inherent, holy giftedness.

What are you doing to help your young people don the mantle of leadership? There can be a “do-it-all-myself-to-ensure-that-it-gets-done” mentality in all kind of ministry, and the ever-busy hustle-bustle ministry with youth is no exception. What would it look like to proactively train young people to be leaders? And: whom in your ministry setting would be blessed by that approach?

Beloved of God, as we enter into the summer season, may you all take the time to rest, to let others lead, and to be blessed in the reminder that as the Body of Christ, we all carry that mantle together.

With you on the journey,

Rev. Jill