At the NATIONAL YOUTH WORKERS CONVENTION, we stopped youth workers from all across the U.S. and asked them to share a 10-second youth ministry tip.

THE 10-SECOND TIP:

“Let leaders lead. So often we want to do stuff, and we miss out on students, as well as other people doing, and learning by doing.”

MY ADDED THOUGHTS:

You stunt the growth of your ministry when it’s effectiveness is measured purely by the number of people you can directly impact. By developing and investing in leaders through a mentorship program, you can multiply your ministry’s impact well beyond your own circle of influence. Whether you’re developing leaders to help with specific practical elements like running sound on Sunday morning, or if you’re developing them into influential roles like small group leaders, you’ll need a practical approach to incorporate eager volunteers. In Dave Ferguson’s book, “Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement”, he outlines a 5-step series that trains leaders to take ownership in their responsibilities, and then helps those leaders know how they can begin to mentor others. Here are the five steps:

• STEP ONE: I do. You watch.
• STEP TWO: I do. You help.
• STEP THREE: You do. I help. We talk.
• STEP FOUR: You do. I watch. We talk.
• STEP FIVE: You do. Someone else watches.

Check out this short blog post that explains these steps a little further.

A mentorship program like this will ultimately help your ministry impact more kids, have a presence at more schools in your community, care for more families, and help the good news of the Gospel change more lives.

Join us this year for the National Youth Workers Convention in Cincinnati, OH for way more tips and ministry ideas from the 50+ seminars and training opportunities. Register early for NYWC to save BIG: NYWC.COM.