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2 Promises to Our Small Group Leaders
I made some promises to our small group leaders tonight during our small group training. These quotes aren’t quite verbatim, but here’s the gist of what I said we would do. We’ve got a lot to live up to in these simple statements, I think:
“We will respond to you no later than the next day.” We will be available to you when you need us the most - within 24 hours of contact. If you send us an email with a request for prayer, you will be prayed for. If you need a resource, we’ll find it, and if possible order it for you. If you’re having trouble with a student, we’ll help jump in whatever way you need. If you have a tough situation and don’t know what to do, we’ll go over some responses and help coach you to the desired result. Anything less than a near-immediate, caring and active response is unacceptable. Availability.
“You will be treated like family.” We will eat together around a table once a week. We will pray together. We will share hurts, ideas, love, celebrations, problems and praises. We will know each others names and smile when we see each other around the church. We will take a genuine interest in family, life, job, and calling. If there is tension, we’ll address it aside and present a unified front to students. We will not accept lone rangers and rogues – we are going to be a great team. Familiarity.
JG
View More: life groups, small group leaders, volunteer training, volunteers, youth worker training
I think these two statements are awesome goals to set for a youth group. I can proudly say that my youth group strives for these same goals as well. My youth pastor is always quick to respond to my many e-mails and that’s the biggest avenue for us to stay connected. Speaking as a leader, it’s fun forming relationships with other leaders and seeing how we all interact. We’re a diverse group, ranging from college students to adults with kids in the youth group. We all share a common love for the kids and it’s that love that keeps us coming back year after year. It’s fun watching new leaders come in and be enveloped by the others; being a wallflower isn’t an option. I was talking to another leader the other day and telling her we should warn any other adults that are interested in working with the youth that they’ll not only step out of their comfort zone but be shoved out of it
My youth pastor has always made us feel that we can come to him with questions or ideas or anything and that’s so important to know as a youth leader. He’s approachable and we all stand behind him as he leads our youth ministry.
This is great. I seem to recall these qualities described among the apostles and other examples of fellowship. Shouldn’t we hold these standards for, not only Youth Groups, but for Small Groups, Church Family, our own Family, etc. Thank you for sharing.