Last week at ALIVE (our youth group), we embarked on a journey that would require an entire summer of preparation. The last year and three months have been absolutely amazing as I have gotten the privilege of getting to know each of the students and have begun to show them what it means to follow Jesus. The youth leaders and I have all decided that it is time to take the next step and call out student leaders from among the youth group for the purpose of discipling them more intentionally and placing them in a leadership role among their peers.
The concept of student leadership is nothing new; youth groups all over the country have been using this model for years. However, it seems to always spark the question: won't that spark arguments that say you are displaying favoritism? The concern is that those students who do not become student leaders will feel left out; like they are not a part of what is happening at ALIVE week in and week out. Another aspect of concern is that those who do become student leaders will feel superior to their peers and therefore abuse their "power."
There are so many concerns and I want to take a few moments on here to address a few of the most popular and why they are non-issues for us as we take this next step toward making disciples of the youth at South Shore Community Church.
Will some view it as favoritism? Maybe. Is it actually favoritism? Not at all. Every single student that walks through the doors of ALIVE on a consistent basis has the opportunity to become a student leader. They simply have to decide whether or not they value their relationship with Jesus enough to live their lives in a way that show they deserve to be Student Leaders. Those who view it as favoritsm are those that want the benefits of becoming a student leader without the sacrifice of self that it takes to get there.
Others will say it is favoritism because they may become a student leader while their friends will not. My response to that is two-fold: 1) maybe it's time to rethink who your friends are, 2) maybe it's time you started intentionally praying for and impacting your friend's lives in a positive way. If someone becomes the only student leader among their group of friends, the potential for life change in that group just went up as one of them took a step of faith to take their relationship with Jesus more seriously.
As for those Student Leaders who begin to feel superior and hold that over the heads of those who aren't, they simply won't be Student Leaders anymore. This isn't a club or a VIP group, it's a community of teenagers and leaders who are serious about their walk with God. It's a group that don't want to be recognized as much as they want Jesus to be recognized.
Another common objection is that this will cause us to lose teenagers to other youth groups, or they may just leave the church altogether because they feel excluded. First of all, ministry is not about how many you get through your church door, it's about how well you disciple the ones that God entrusts you with in the first place. Secondly, we never want someone to walk away from youth group and lose the opportunity of hearing the gospel every Wednesday. Our Wednesday night programs will always be tailored to everyone who walks in. It will be the 'front door' of our ministry; a time where the student leaders eventually take ownership of and have a greater impact among their peers. Wednesday night is a time where the Student leaders and unbelievers alike can have God meet their greatest need.
Will some of the Student Leaders totally fake their commitment and fool everyone? I hope not, but the reality is that they might. But I have to trust that the Holy Spirit will use their time on Student Leadership to convict their hearts about their hypocrisy. I have to trust that the hypocrite can become the humble servant of God.
Will someone who deserves to be on Student Leadership get overlooked because they are quiet about their faith? My answer to that will be with another question: can someone whose heart has been changed by our amazing God possibly keep quiet about that change?
The objection I probably hate (yes, I know that's a strong word) the most is this: "But some of these students have so many other things going on. They are on sports teams, dance teams, choirs, bands, debate teams, etc. They have so much going on in their lives. So something has to give here. They can't be involved in everything."
So what you're telling me is that everything else is more important? I am done with the excuses in this area. Either your relationship with Jesus is the #1 priority or it's not. Either the purpose of youth group is intense, fruitful discipleship that is costly, or it's a babysitting service. It's your choice, but don't tell me that community and discipleship is important to you if you're never there and you never sacrifice to make it happen. How can you lead your peers at youth group if you're never there?
I understand that all of this is touchy and hard to hear. I understand it may sound legalistic and cold. But until we raise the bar and commit our time, resources, energy and efforts into real, biblical discipleship, change will not occur. Until we put the stake in the ground and cry out for a generation that seeks after God's heart, mediocrity will continue to be the norm.
Jesus Himself said "If you love Me, you'll keep My Commandments." John said that "His commands are not burdensome." So if Student Leadership feels like a burden, that's a heart issue.
I'm not trying to call anyone to legalism, I'm trying to call them to holiness and lives that are sold out to our Savior. Until we as The Church become dissatisfied with the way things are, change will not occur. We will continue to have weekly youth groups and the teenagers will clap, smile and go home having had a good time. Then we will have to stand before Jesus and say that we spent our lives entertaining 10,000 teenagers rather than discipling 100 who would go on to change the world.
I still want to minister to the students who are far from God. I still want to love and disciple the student who rejects Jesus and doesn't even like me. But I would rather do that with an amazing team of student leaders by my side who are all headed toward the same goal of lifting up the name of Jesus to reach their generation and the world!
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