Having a strong & healthy leadership team is important! Developing your team is something worth investing time into because of what this investment is sure to bring. I’m sure every youth pastor would agree that the more leaders you have the greater the potential is of effectively discipling your teenagers. But if you have a large team full of the wrong people you’ll probably find that you’ll get bogged down putting out fires and constantly having to address cultural problems and ultimately you will end up being extremely frustrated.
Selecting the right leaders for your team is vital to the long-term success of your youth ministry. So what traits should a potential leader have before you invite them onto your team, and what things can they learn or develop, once they are part of your team?
Exodus 18:21a Moses was then to “select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.”
Jethro had set up selection process so that Moses could assess who the right men for the task were.
This was the checklist:
Are they Capable?
Of leading others, to have influence, to serve?
Do they fear God?
Have they sold their life out fully for Jesus?
Are they Trustworthy?
Are they the person they say they are?
Do they hate dishonest gain?
Are they more concerned for God’s kingdom or their own kingdom?
When you filter your selection process through these 4 questions it will help to bring clarity to the decision you are making; but let’s not stop there, the bible is full of scriptural suggestions & mandates for a follower of Christ. Below is a list of 5 other questions to filter potential leaders through.
Other things to consider
Have they been water baptised?
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Have they been filled with the Holy Spirit:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Do they have a Working With Children’s Check / Police Check?
Mark 9:42 – And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
We have a spiritual and legal obligation to protect the teenagers in our youth ministries. It’s important that we do not neglect this responsibility by failing to know the people on our teams.
Are there areas of sin in their life that have been unaddressed?
Proverbs 28:13 – He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Ephesians 5:11 – Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
Do they attend your Sunday services and have a heart for your church?
Hebrews 10:25 – Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the day approaching.
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When we apply this checklist to our leadership selection process we will find that we’ll continually be developing great leaders and will avoid many frustrations.
