Every teenager has leadership potential. More than potential, however, every teenager has influence. My job, as someone who desires to expand my leadership influence, is to help students learn to do the same. Over my time working with students, I’ve developed a conviction or two. One of those convictions: sometimes …
wes 
The Father-Leader Paradox
I’m less than a month away from a milestone in my life: my oldest daughter is getting ready to move into the youth ministry. I don’t know if you’ve thought about the dynamic of being a parent/youth minister, but I have been contemplating it pretty heavily over the past month …
3 Observations about Developing Student Leaders
Last week I got to spend time at camp with a group of six student leaders. For the last three summers, I have helped develop and grow what we call the Horizon Leadership Camp (HLC). The concept is simple: when a church group comes to camp, they have the option …
The Leadership Invitation
When I was a 8th grader, my youth minister had a conversation with me that helped set me on a path for the duration of my high school career. I went to a small school and a small town church, so there weren’t a plethora of students in our youth …
Leadership & Relationship
This morning I found a journal that was given to me almost 17 years ago. In it were notes written from youth group members of my home church. The words were encouraging, hopeful (stay in touch!), and affirming, even 17 years later. As I was reading their words, I was …