The Teenager as a Leader

“Leaders aren't born, they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal” — Vince Lombardi

I knew there was something not quite right about leaders being born. One’s status at birth may prime them for leadership such as royalty, family business succession, etc, but when a child is born, I don’t think they can just jump into such a role without being groomed for the part. A leader should be about learning specific skills rather than possessing natural qualities. It requires skills that have been honed through learning and practice rather than genetics. These include listening skills, communication skills, collaborative skills, empathy and posture/charisma, etc. Desired qualities will include visionary, integrity, discernment, wisdom, character, knowledgeable, teachable, etc.

It is true that not all of us will be leaders but today’s teenagers need nurturing to be successful leaders tomorrow. There is an urgent need to create and provide the platforms for them to develop the important leadership skills they will need. Christian teenagers remain our focus and the future of the faith rests on the continuous and systematic growth of responsible young people to lead future generations towards the divine purpose for mankind.

The church has some programmes and schemes that provide leadership opportunities for our young people to become great leaders. Most churches now have their established and functional Teens Church, with teachers, mentors and with programmes that support them to bloom and grow, while building their faith. They are allowed to play a large role in the planning of their service where they, using interactive methods, teach in Sunday School, minister in song and message, conduct Bible Quiz, drama depicting life issues affecting them, vocational training, fellowship and prayer. In order to prepare them for future roles, they have leaders who take charge of their fellowship, many of whom continue in leadership roles upon their advancement to the Youth Church.

The Summer Camp is another excellent platform for teenagers to practice their leadership skills. The camps teach and develop leadership skills. At the camp, the teenagers are often encouraged to become volunteer counselors and receive training from camp professionals with years of experience teaching effective leadership skills.

Brian Dodd lists 10 Practices of Highly Effective Teenage Christian Leaders:

1.                  They Love God – They place Jesus Christ as the top priority in their life.

2.                  They Respect Authority – They listen to their parents, pastors, teachers and coaches.

3.                  They Hang Around Other Highly Effective Teenage Christian Leaders – Even for teenagers, John Maxwell’s Law of the Inner Circle applies.  Those closest to the leader determine the success of the leader.  Birds of a feather flock together.

4.                  They Are Readers – Much like adult leaders, teenage leaders are readers.

5.                  They Are Continual Learners – They are humble enough to know they do not know it all.  Furthermore, they know learning is a privilege and a joy.

6.                  They Embrace Process – They do their homework every day.  They work out every day.  They practice their craft every day.  They read their Bible every day.  They even put in extra work.  They make every day matter.

7.                  They Are Servants – Whether it is the poor and under-resourced or even-younger children, highly effective teenage Christian leaders are using their position and influence to serve others.

8.                  They are Creative – This generation of up-and-coming Christian leaders sees the world through a completely different lens than my generation.  And we are all better off because of it.

9.                  They Are Persistent – They stay with a task until they get it right.

10.             They Have Big Vision – Whether it is the internet, events like Passion, growing up in great churches, youth mission trips or any number of other items, today’s generation of teenagers have been exposed to much and have big, God-sized visions.  May they achieve them all and more.

There is the popular quote by John C. Maxwell, “Leadership is influence; nothing more, nothing less”. Other poignant quotes on leader from Mr. Maxwell include;

“True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed, or assigned. It comes only from influence, and that cannot be mandated. It must be earned. The only thing a title can buy is a little time-either to increase your level of influence with others or to undermine it. Just because someone has a title, doesn’t mean that person is a leader”.

“When it comes to identifying a real leader… The proof of leadership is found in the followers.”

As a teenage Christian leader, what kind of influence do you have on your peers? Skinny jeans influence? Sagging trousers influence? Tattoo influence? ‘Bare it all’ influence? Bully influence? Drugs and alcohol influence? Liberal sex influence?

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader” — John Quincy Adams

My Picture in the Scripture

Psalms 139:14, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well”.

As a teenager, this Bible text was my life saver. When you are skinny, timid and gawky and not a great specimen in the ‘looks’ department, the word of God has the power to lift up your spirits and to give you hope. 

This Scripture is the lifeline for that teenager craving friendship and acceptance but experiencing avoidance and rejection. Getting blamed for every little wrongdoing and suffering abuse, whether physical, mental, or emotional, has a way of sending your fragile self-esteem to its lowest level. The pain, shame, confusion, self-blame, etc, begins to manifest in negative self-talk, food abuse, attention-seeking antics, depression and even suicide. What a life!

The word of God comes through so clearly… “I have cause to praise God; He made me a unique and wonderful being”. I am special. I didn’t realise this all these past years but now, I do. I am a masterpiece.

Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

And I am not an after-thought. Jeremiah 1:5 says, "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb." I was already known even before being painstakingly designed and crafted. I am the manifestation of divine inspiration.

This is pure heady stuff for the average teenager. So, I don’t need those ‘curves’ the world worships and the ‘looks’ they rave about. They are products of the defective imaginations of ungrateful men.

Robert McGee puts it thus: "In our Search for Significance, many of us continue to seek our security and purpose from worldly sources - personal success, status, beauty, wealth, and even approval from others."

Not me, I’m cool, calm and contented with my foundation and my heritage. So, I am not popular in school and in the neighbourhood, having uncountable friends but I have Jesus – He is all the friend that I need. And He’ll get me friends, just like Him. 

So, I’m not hitting the As in all subjects in school but I am proud that my scores are the product of my effort, not through exam malpractice. So I’m not working with an employer ‘to die for’ in a profession that society regards as ‘top of the range’ but I’m happy and fulfilled adding value to people’s lives and the community.

Rather than follow the ever-changing ‘fashions’ that neither I nor my parents can afford, I rest easy, with gratitude to God, that I have food to eat; a roof over my head and clothes on my back. And while my peers may desire the limelight and worldly accolades, the most significant thing I want to do with my life is to please the One who made me!

It takes a tremendous dosage of divine wisdom and spiritual understanding for a teenager to overcome peer pressure and the crave for societal recognition and to find solace, joy and peace in the word of God. In studying and meditating on the Scriptures, the teenager is set free through the revelation of life truths that provide the courage to break out of the stress to conform to worldly standards.

So, I have the word for those who keep trying to put me down – John 9:25, “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

A Generation Living for God

Bible Text: 1 Peter 2:9, 

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (AMP).

This Scripture tells us a lot about ourselves – the way the Almighty God regards us. You may see yourself as a regular and ordinary teenager but to God, you mean much more. In a nutshell, the Bible text above says we are;

1.      special to God

2.      chosen, royalty and holy

3.      God’s possession and purpose – to manifest His excellency

A generation refers to people of a certain age group, age band or age bracket. As teenagers, you belong to the age bracket of 13-19 years – that’s a generation. And even as the world recognizes that, God knows you, recognizes you and has plans for you.

In order to accomplish the purpose of our being, we need the complementary attitudes that govern that aspiration. Teenagers know about attitude. While many of them are well-behaved and have a good attitude, same cannot be said for others. It is said that ‘your attitude will determine your altitude’. This is so true because a bad attitude gets one nowhere – like a flat tyre. So, there are certain vital attitudes that will help you meet your obligation as a member of the ‘chosen generation’.

They include;

1. Be Proactive:

What does it mean to be ‘Proactive’? It means to act before an impending or likely incident/situation happens. There is the phrase, ‘Many let life happen to them’. This is when we let situations and circumstances overwhelm us without precaution (James 4:17). There are lots of proactive messages in the Bible. 

Let’s take Matthew 7:7-12, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find it; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone who asked, received; the one who sought, found; and the one who knocked, the door was opened”.

What is the pro-action here?

a) If you have questions or need to make enquiries, then ask them. This will provide you the opportunity to obtain the answers you need to make crucial decisions before the consequences befall you. For instance, in order to accomplish your life purpose, you have to ‘ask’ from God. Why? Because He created you and He knows why He created you. When you receive the answer from Him, you are in a better position to achieve your purpose and not spend your life in a limbo or fruitlessly.

b) ‘Seeking’ calls for a deeper search for someone or something. When you are proactive, you go searching early and diligently in order to achieve the desired outcome. The Bible advices us to do this, as much as necessary, so as not to wallow in ignorance.

c) Knocking on a door signifies a desire to enter a place. Knocking makes a loud sound, calling on the hearer to take action – open the door so I can enter. For instance, you are fleeing from danger and heading toward your neighbour’s house. On getting there, you need them to respond to your desperation, so you will bang on the door with all your strength such that they will open the door.

Prayer is the most proactive thing we can do! Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them”. Make it a duty to communicate with God by prayer.

2. Be Positive

To be positive is to have an attitude that exudes optimism and affirmation. It calls for one to be confident and bold. Teenagers seek to be bold but seem to appear pompous. They want to exude confidence but it looks like arrogance. So, as a teenager, you need to balance your body language so your motive is not misunderstood. For instance, the congregation of the early church wanted to be bold so as to have the courage to spread the gospel. 

Acts 4:29 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word”.

What positive action?

a)    Remain confident: Hebrews 13:6, “So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”. So, we place our confidence in our God. He is the One to help us because we don’t have the ability, authority and capacity, like He has, to help ourselves.

b)  Fear God, not man: Matthew10:28, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell”.

c)  Make God your Helper: Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

d)  Positive Self-Talk: Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengtheneth me!”

3.   Be Humble

To be humble is to have or show a modest or low estimate of one's importance whether in position or value. This might be a lot to handle for teenagers who like to be noticed and acknowledged. But humility calls for meekness, not timidity, and prevents us from being over confident. The humble teenager will reach out to a lot more people, build good relationships and make tremendous impact in their generation.

What humble actions?

a) Have a child-like mind: The mind of a child is innocent and unassuming. It is also open and receptive. Luke 9:48, “Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

b) Lean on God’s grace: Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. The humble teenager acknowledges that their life propeller is the grace of God. And there are levels of grace but whichever one is needed, God will unfailingly provide.

c) Be sacrificial: Hebrew 11:25, “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season”. Human beings like the good life and teenagers are no exemption but there comes a time when we have to make the sacrifice to endure hardship, especially when sin is dangled before the offer of pleasure. In order not to backslide, the believer must possess divine strength to face persecution and hostility for the sake of the gospel.

CONCLUSION:

Are you a Christian teenager? Are you willing to join the effort of others to distinguish your generation for Christ? If your answer is ‘yes’, please be assured that millions of other believers will be praying for and with you. If you have not given your life to Christ, today provides you an opportunity to establish and build a relationship with your Heavenly Father and Maker and to join the community of the chosen generation. What do you have to do?

a. Hear the word of God: Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. This message provides you with the information and knowledge you need to take the decision to join God’s chosen generation.

b. Believe with all your heart: Hebrews 11:6, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him”. You cannot follow someone you do not trust. We call on you to trust God with everything you’ve got. He will never disappoint you.

c. Repent of your sins: Acts 17:30-31, “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead”. You have hurt God all these while in your thoughts, words and action. There is no justification because that is not the way God asked us to live. Nevertheless, He is ready to forgive us when we apologize and depart from our offensive way of life.

d. Confess Jesus as the Son of God: Matthew 16:15-16, “Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour is to proclaim Him His existence and His majesty. It may be difficult at first but don’t be ashamed. The Lord will see you through.

e. Be baptized for the remission of your sins: Mark 16:15-16, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned”. Baptism heralds your public confession and identification with the Lord. Join a Bible-believing church in your community today and let them disciple you into the family of the chosen generation.

Let’s Talk about SWAG!

The term “swagger” or ‘swag’ was made popular among our young adults by performing musicians, especially the ‘rappers’ who have applied the term in a vulgar manner. But for some knowledgeable youths, the term has nothing to do with its current reckless use. The use of this word is found in literary works by William Shakespeare - an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist – in his play, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

According to some writers, the correct definition of the word has to do with carrying oneself in an audacious manner, not about wearing colorful sneakers or dressing like a hipster. Swagger is said to be part of a man’s attitude affirmed by his success or position in life, not in a new designer belt clinging to jeans draped just above the knees so boxers are seen in an obscene style known as ‘sagging’.

Swagger speaks of stylish confidence, a very confident and arrogant and aggressive gait or manner. It refers to the way you present yourself; having style, confidence, etc. So, in a nutshell, swagger is an attitude, a manner that incorporates style but it is also about conduct.

Swagger and the Christian Teenager

Swagger is a lot about ‘being cool’ – like arrogant, pompous, etc. The problem with wanting to be cool in our culture is that cool can easily become the new ‘foolish’. Everyone – friends, television, movies, etc – may regard it as cool but negative swagger only ‘looks’ cool, promoted by young people with little understanding (Proverbs 7:7).

Let’s see how Jesus defined what should be our ‘swag’? The smartest, strongest, wisest people in the world should be practicing this ‘cool’:

“Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them (thinking it is ‘swag’). But it shall not be so among you. For whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be the servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42–45).

So, the essence of our swagger is for us to be so mature, content, peaceful and courageous in Christ that we are set free from the insanity of those who think that swagger comes from our clothing, looks, position, material possessions, etc.

We are human beings created in the image of the Almighty God and destined to achieve great and mighty things (Joel 2:28). Nothing could be more foolish than to think that our significance, worth and greatness – our swagger - is in what people think about our outward appearance instead of what they think about our inner reality. So, let us, teenagers, wake up from the madness of the ‘herd mentality’ where some ‘cool’ bull leads the whole herd of cattle to destruction.

Let our swagger be about the really significant things we are doing with our lives — like Jesus - serving other people, making a difference in the world. Don’t try to be cool even if everyone is doing so but be a radical servant. Focus not on what you are not going to do or not going to be, but focus on what you are going to be — the things you are going to do for the good of others. He who would be great, with swagger, Jesus said, must be the servant of all. Ask yourself, “How can I serve somebody today”? not, “How can I get somebody to like me today”? That would be a truly radical and wonderful revolution!!!

Volunteering for Teenagers

By next week, the holidays would be over and schools, especially the secondary schools, will resume. Nevertheless, let me presume that we’ve learnt a lot in the past weeks on how to keep us, teenagers, occupied during the holiday period. But there’s one more activity for us to discuss today. It’s called volunteering.

What is volunteering?

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial gain "to benefit another person, group or organization"; an unpaid activity where someone gives their time to help a not-for-profit organisation or an individual who they are not related to. Volunteering is also renowned for skill development and is often intended to promote goodness or to improve human quality of life.

It is a universal truth that "giving is much better than receiving" and a selfless act with no regard for financial compensation is definitely more rewarding.  In fact, being a volunteer as a teenager and young adult during the holidays can offer you a lot of fun and travel opportunities, post-high school references, pre-employment opportunities and a chance to meet people of different cultures and lifestyles.

Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change lives, including your own. If you're feeling frustrated or overwhelmed by the news of a disaster, volunteering to help can be a great way to cope. If you'd like to support a cause but can't afford to donate money, you can donate your time instead.

Volunteering builds character, admiration, responsibility plus an understanding of other people's needs and respect for peers, siblings, as well as teachers; it means building on a future foundation, fine tuning innate talents and skills, and/or grasp of the understanding of responsibilities and respect for decent work.

How do you go about it?

1.    Find What Interests Right You

Unlike school, volunteering allows you to pick what really interests you and who (or what) deserves your time the most. Let’s share ideas in a few areas:

a. Helping other children. You can become a Big Brother or Big Sister, camp counselor, or volunteer for an after-school program or with special-needs children.

b.    Helping the vulnerable. You can help in shelters for victims of disaster, motherless children’s homes, hospitals, old people’s homes, etc. The church also may be able to use your help.

c. Help the environment. You can join a conservation group and help out with erosion/flood, desertification control. You can also take part in a community clean-up day, etc.

2.    Find What Fits Your Schedule

Once you have found something that inspires you, decide how much time you want to spend. Local organizations (like hospitals or shelters) often like volunteers to give them a set amount of time every week or two. You can also spend the whole holiday volunteering through a structured internship program. The advantage is that you get to occupy yourself in the activities and feel a real sense of achievement when you see the results. Because you spend a lot of time together, most people who work on long-term volunteer projects form close friendships. Sometimes you get to travel, and the organization may pay your travel and living costs.

3.    Expand Your Mind

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills — from working as part of a team to setting and reaching goals. It gives you a chance to discover what kinds of things you do best and enjoy the most. A volunteer job that you love can even help shape your ideas about your career goals. Volunteering also can provide you with a sense of responsibility because people will depend on you and it can help you develop a new understanding of people who are different from you — people with disabilities, people in distress, sick children, or the elderly.

4.    Feel Good

Donating your time and skill is a great way to feel like you have contributed to changing things for the better. When people depend on you, it can change the way you look at yourself. You can feel proud of the goals that you've achieved for an organization — whether it's helping to raise money for a cause or running the race itself. Volunteering is also a great way to get a perspective on your own life. Sometimes it's easy to get consumed by worries about your school grades or the fight you had with your best friend or parent. And although these things are very important in their own way, sometimes it can be helpful to get some distance and think about other things. Volunteering allows you to focus on others and see that your involvement in the world can be meaningful. In addition, volunteering can help save you from being bored — it gives you a place to be where you can have a good time and keep busy.

5.    Look Good

When you donate your time to a cause you care about, it looks impressive on college/university or job applications. That is not the main reason for volunteering, of course. If you do it just to please other people or to look good, you may not enjoy it but volunteering does show others (and yourself!) that you are reliable enough to make a commitment and show up on schedule. Volunteering also shows employers and colleges/universities that you believe in making the world a better place — and that you're willing to sacrifice your time and energy to do it.

Where Do I Sign Up?

After you have decided what you are interested in and how much time you can devote, then you begin to find out where you can volunteer. There are several choices. You can search the Internet for any organization that fits your interest area; call directly and ask if they need volunteers; ask friends or relatives for ideas and contacts to identify a job that is a good fit for you. When you are calling an organization to offer your time, it is best to ask for a volunteer coordinator. Be ready to answer some questions, like:

Ø    Why do you want to volunteer for our organization?

Ø    What do you know about our organization?

Ø    How many hours a week will you be able to volunteer?

Ø    What are your interests?

Ø    Do you have any special skills?

Ø    Do you have a way to get here?

It might help to get your answers to these questions, just to prepare. Most places will ask you to come for an interview, which is usually pretty casual. They want to talk to you face to face and if they haven't yet asked the questions above, they will do it at the interview. Whether your interview is on the phone or in person, don't forget to ask questions of your own. For example:

Ø    What will be expected of me if I volunteer here?

Ø    What kind of training will I receive?

Ø    How many other volunteers are there?

Ø    How many hours do you expect me to volunteer each week/month?

You might even want to ask if you can observe some other volunteers in action to get a feel for the work before you commit. If it is a good fit — meaning you like the organization, they like you, and you like the work — volunteering can be an incredible experience.

Tips for Parents

1.                  Health care volunteer opportunities for teens would be an ideal jump start to a career in the medical field and are the most popular programs for future health care professionals (i.e. doctors or nurses).  There are a number schools that can provide referrals to hospitals, clinics and even convalescent homes where a teen can legally volunteer. Simply, contact your teen’s school to get a referral.  If the school doesn't offer volunteer referrals, then contacting the nearest hospital or health care facility will set your teen in the right direction.

2.                  Social Service volunteering for teens is a great way to get out and see the world plus meet new and interesting people!  It will teach teenagers the understanding of hardship and the value of offering time, talent and resources to others who would not have the opportunity to get it otherwise.  Teens who volunteer for social service programs will benefit from serving as a tutor, mentor or holiday camp aid.  Teens and parents alike will also agree on the travel benefits of teens volunteering. Volunteering in social services offers additional opportunities for teens to participate in after school, weekend and holiday field trips and travelling for free or low cost.

3.                  Sports program volunteering is a terrific opportunity for teens interested in sports.  Depending on the chosen sports field, local sports organizations can facilitate an opportunity of a lifetime for volunteering teens.  Teens benefit from volunteer opportunities as a water boy, mascots, equipment assistants, assistants on tennis courts, golf and football fields, etc.  Not to mention they will love the opportunity to work with their favourite team and mingle with professional players.

4.                  Other volunteering opportunities beneficial for teens are working with local law enforcement agencies, fire departments services, libraries, NGOs, recreational, etc.  Talk to your teen about what they want to do, then help them build a strong foundation by locating the best volunteer choices in your area.

5.                  There are usually a lot of programmes in church that would beneficial to the teenagers but with their school work and all, many cannot devote their full attention. One of which is the Foundation Class. The Foundation Class is a study group that helps to guide you into the light and power of the word of God and prepare you for the walk with the Almighty God. It also helps to encourage one to serve actively in the church and community through evangelism, visitation, fund raising, community service, fasting, and prayer. At the end of the programme, participants are usually baptized by immersion. How to join? Talk to your Pastor.