Habits for Successful Youth Leaders (cont.)
8. Tell lots and lots of changed-life stories.
“On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” Acts 14:27
Storytelling has a deeper impact on developing the spiritual DNA of teenagers than most of us imagine. The stories we tell help forge and form the disciples we lead. The best influencers are often the best storytellers. Look at Jesus! He was the ultimate storyteller, and his parables still influence us today!
For millennia, storytelling formed the courage, worldview, and morals of youth people worldwide. Before TV and cable, kids sat around a log fire and listened to adults regale stories of heroism, struggles, and pain. They taught through storytelling.
Today we let Hollywood tell our stories. As a result, a group of mostly unbelieving directors forge young people’s morals and worldview. Hollywood defines heroism. Hollywood teaches truth. Because Hollywood tells the stories. But if we get better at storytelling and help teenagers get better too? Then we can help build the worldview and get kids to act!
Scientific research backs that up. In “Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling” in the Harvard Business Review, Paul Zak writes that a good story creates empathy with the audience. Then that creates the neurochemical oxytocin. The better and more compelling the story, the more oxytocin is released. And the more likely the audience is to act!
So let’s get in the habit of telling powerful, changed-life stories. Then our teens will be more likely to act on the mission of Jesus themselves!
9. Share your faith often.
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
We need to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, including the area of evangelism. If Jesus’ primary mission was “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), then shouldn’t that be our primary mission as well?
Sadly, many youth leaders hide behind excuses. “Well, I don’t have the gift of evangelism.” Or “I’m really more about discipleship.” Or “I give the gospel during our outreaches.” Instead, we should develop a personal habit of relational evangelism.
If kids don’t see it in us, then they won’t learn it from us. That’s how the disciples learned to share their faith, from watching Jesus! From the woman at the well, to the rich young ruler, healed lepers, transformed prostitutes, and inquisitive religious leaders, Jesus was always sharing the good news. His disciples caught what he had.
And our teenagers will catch what we have. So make sure you have it by making sure evangelism is a habit! That is one of the most important habits for successful youth leaders.
10. Go for quantity (not just quality) time with family.
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.” Psalm 127:3-5
As a guy who’s on the road (a lot), I have to work really hard on this. So I don’t just go for “quality of time” but “quantity of time” as well. As I heard Pastor Stu Weber say, quality time is a myth. It happens only when you spend enough time with someone. You can’t plan quality time, but you can look for it and maximize it when it actually happens.
Having conversations with your wife and kids on the way to school, after watching a movie, on the way home from church, or on a road trip can be when quality time just happens. When it does, we have to seize it and squeeze out every last drop of impact.
This means we must plan time with our families. Because the more we spend time together, the more quality time can unfold.
These 10 habits for successful youth leaders are game-changing. Did I miss any? Share your comments below!
