I’ve been blogging about leadership for the past 4+ years. While I think a lot of what I write has universal practical application, my burden is to challenge and equip youth ministers to challenge and equip students (and other adults) to become leaders.
I believe junior high and high school students are faced with incredible opportunities everyday to make a difference, but so many times they just don’t know what to do. I believe we have adults attending our churches who desperately want a place to serve, but they just don’t know what they can do. I believe we have people all around us who are simply waiting for permission to step up and lead.
But none of this happens if we as leaders don’t take our own personal leadership development seriously. I cannot lead someone where I have not been. I cannot challenge to step up and meet a need if I’m not practicing the same thing.
And so the ultimate challenge simply becomes: carry the burden. I will continue to encourage you to grow your leadership influence because I think until we learn to grow as leaders, we cannot encourage those around us to do the same.
But the action falls on you. Are you willing to put forth the effort to grow as a leader. When it’s not easy. When it’s lonely. When it’s challenging. When it’s exhausting. When it’s rewarding. When it’s easy. Are you willing to do what is necessary to grow as a leader and to lead those around you to do the same?