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Home > Blog > Networking > Leadership > Student Leadership: The Key to Building Ownership in Your Youth Ministry

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Written by Ben Birdsong, on August 29, 2010

Posted in: Leadership, Training

Student leadership is an often overlooked but essential element to youth ministry. Why do we neglect it? Maybe it's the time,

energy, and investment involved versus the sometimes intangible pay offs. However, even though student leadership may play a

small part of most youth groups, it's the key to building ownership in your student ministry.

Andy Stanley, lead pastor at NorthPoint Community Church, uses the analogy of a house to explain people's levels of

involvement in the church. This metaphor works really well when examining the idea of ownership and leadership regarding

your youth group.

TThhee FFooyyeerr When people come into a house, the first room they enter is the foyer. These people are probably visitors. Every visitor

to your student ministry and maybe even some of your newer students are in the foyer stage. These students are going to "the

youth group down the road."

TThhee LLiivviinngg RRoooomm Stanley's next stage is the living room. This is where people begin to feel comfortable. This is the stage where

most of your students are. "The youth group down the road" has become "the youth group which I attend." This is a crucial step in

your students beginning to "plug in" to your youth ministry.

TThhee KKiittcchheenn Most student ministries stay in the living room stage and don't ever get to the final stage: the kitchen. In the

kitchen, students become part of the family. They have roles and responsibilities. The "youth group I attend" becomes "my youth

group." This stage is almost impossible to get to without students taking ownership in the ministry. So, how do you build a

student leadership team?

Enlist Students to Be in LeadershipThe best leaders are not always the first to volunteer. Many students with leadership potential are already serving in other areas.

They may be hesitant to sign up for something else. The same students that serve in leadership at the church where I serve are

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BEN BIRDSONGBen Birdsong works with middle school students at First Baptist Church in Pelham, Alabama. He holds

degrees in Marketing and Human Resource Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham

and a Masters of Divinity degree from Samford University's Beeson Divinity School. Ben has served with

Student Life, Inc. and First Priority of Alabama. He loves to minister to students and challenge them to

become campus missionaries and to live out their faith. Ben enjoys movies, reading, coffee shops, and

blogging at http://www.benbirdsong.com.

also leaders in athletics, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and First Priority clubs at school. So, you might consider enlisting

students vs. waiting for volunteers. Look around you for students who are stepping up and showing leadership potential.

Incorporate your ministry team in helping you identify potential student leaders.

Explain the Cost and Responsibility of LeadershipStudents and youth workers alike must understand that leadership comes with a cost. Students are responsible to God and

others for how they lead. LLeeaaddeerrsshhiipp ccoovveennaanntt In order to present the cost and responsibility of leadership to students, I have

developed a leadership covenant. This is a single page document that each student takes home and prays over before signing.

This document underscores the importance of prayer, Bible study, modeling Christian character, developing spiritual gifts, and

witnessing. These are all essential elements to leading other students well. After the first meeting, students are given an

opportunity to step away if God is not leading them to serve.

Explore Students' Spiritual GiftsServing as a leader is not going to look the same for every student. Just as you, as the youth leader, have certain strengths and

weaknesses, your students do, as well. Many students, however, have a hard time on their own defining these strengths and

weaknesses. This is why student leadership forms an important role in developing students through personal growth and

discipleship. As students learn their strengths and weaknesses, they will grow as individuals. This is why student leadership

often does not have immediate, tangible results. As youth leaders, we will never know the impact that we have had on a student

with regard to their growth both spiritually and in leadership.

Empower Students to ServeEmpowering students to serve is the final step in developing student leaders. This is a phase that many youth leaders struggle

with. At this point some level of control and responsibility must be given over to students. This can be a messy but rewarding

process. It's important in this process to create spaces for students to serve based on their spiritual gifts. In doing this, we allow

students to play to their strengths and to have success in leadership endeavors. Setting students up for success is essential in

helping them step out and lead in the future. Through this process, the connection of ownership occurs. The movement from

"the youth group down the street" to "the youth group which I attend," to "my youth group" is accomplished while encouraging,

teaching, and empowering students to lead. And that is worth the effort to developing student leaders.

Share your thoughts with the youthmmiinniissttrryy360 community:

WWhhaatt aarree ssoommee sstteeppss yyoouu ttaakkee ttoo ddeevveelloopp ssttuuddeenntt lleeaaddeerrss iinn yyoouurr yyoouutthh mmiinniissttrryy??

WWhhaatt aarree tthhee cchhaalllleennggeess ttoo iiddeennttiiffyyiinngg aanndd ddeevveellooppiinngg ssttuuddeenntt lleeaaddeerrss??

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A Tension Unique To Youth Ministry?5 comments • 13 days ago

AvatarRahkiah Brown — I love youth ministry and this blog! Thanksfor your work in this area!

An Interesting Side Effect Of Longevity In YouthMinistry2 comments • 20 days ago

Avatarandyblanks — Jeff, Great points, especially about thecomplacency that can slip in when we become reallycomfortable. I know I have had to fight this in my …

Youth Worker BOOST: Building On A Solid Foundation2 comments • 18 days ago

Avatarandyblanks — Thanks Rahkiah!

Your Students' View Of The Bible Starts With You3 comments • 18 days ago

Avatarandyblanks — Rahkiah, I couldn't agree with you more. Greatthoughts here. Thanks so much for sharing!

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