Spiritual Formation

The next 2 stages of leadership development are where most young people find themselves: Character and Spiritual Formation, Service and Application. First we need to understand that BEING the person God wants us to be is much more important the DOING the things that demonstrate quality Christian leadership. If we allow God to shape our character through an intimate relationship with Him, we will eventually become much more effective in our service to Him.
God's objectives here are:

1. Intimacy - How close do I live to God and how much do I really depend on Him?
2. Discernment - What is really important to God and how does that shape my values?
3. Lordship - Is obeying God's Word always first in my decision making process?
4. Security - Do I trust God to accomplish what He wants in me no matter the personal cost?
5. Identity - Am I more concerned about others and their opinion of me or what God says about me?
6. Convictions and disciplines - Based on how I spend my time and money, what are the things I consider most valuable? 

AFTER we develop in each of these areas, God has begun to shape us into a person that He can use. The next stage is called "Service and Application". We are now able to serve because we understand what God values and are able to depend on Him for the perspective, wisdom and strength to do what may otherwise be impossible. Evaluate yourself and talk though your evaluation with a parent, youth leader or mentor. Note the areas you still need to grow in and develop a plan for growth.

(source: "Portrait of a Leader", bk 1, pp 61-78) 

Providential Beginnings

In our first session together, we looked at the first 3 stages of becoming a leader: 1) Providential Beginnings, 2) Character Formation, and 3) Service and Application. The first stage is quite interesting because we have very little control over who invests in our lives during the first 8 - 12 years of life. God places us in situations and families who influence us in tremendous ways. Some of these situations are very difficult and some are not. But what God wants to do, in His providence, is shape us into people that He can use and prepare us for very special tasks, even sometimes giving us a vision for our life that directs our future.
Take a look at the life of Wess Stafford, president of Compassion Ministries: http://www.faithtalks.com/posts/wess-stafford/ His life is a beautiful example of how God shapes a person from early life to prepare them for something great.

Take 20 minutes to think and write on these questions:

1. How is God's providence evident in my personal history?
2. How has this made me different and special?
3. What might this point to in regard to my potential and purpose?

God want to do great things in you and through you. The first step is understanding the things that are out of our control and being thankful for the uniqueness of who you are as a result of those providential circumstances.

Questions

Where are our students spiritually? What is their current relationship with Christ?

Do they realize that they cannot grow spiritually unless they get their eyes off of themselves and begin to see the needs of those around them and how God will meet those needs through their willingness to serve/lead?

These questions might be first steps in developing young leaders. Does anyone have ideas as to how we can move students from "contented Christians" to "Christ-like servants"? This is often the difficulty with adult Christians as well. I at times become so complacent in "being good" that I forget to "do good" and, therefore, never really grow! It's easy to depend on pastors and teachers to chew my spiritual food for me so it will go down easier and never get my hands dirty with real life and other people's problems. How do we create an atmosphere for real spiritual growth within our schools? How can we build true concern for others into our lives? What are we already doing that is alowing God to demonstrate His love through us?

Some things we are experimenting with right now at ECA involve students leading outreach ministries to children in our neighborhood (kids clubs), students helping to teach English in various settings with children and adults, students planning and leading a youth group (ministry to peers after school), pairing students with adults to work on specific tasks together with the goal of passing the responsibility to the student, and even elementary students involved in a club called "Random Acts of Kindness".

Thoughts from SLC 2006

As we were working in groups during the second workshop on Friday, I came up with some ideas based on our discussion. What our students really need to be able to do is to learn to lead in unfamiliar situations. Young people growing up in our quickly changing societies will need to adapt quickly and that demands an exceptional ability to perceive the needs, spiritual and physical/emotional/social, of those around them. They will also need to be able to unite and empower others to meet those needs. So, a possible purpose statement might read:

"Discipling students as they learn to lead in unfamiliar settings, perceiving the needs of their community, while uniting and empowering a team to meet those needs in a manner the reflects the grace of God."

Two keys to this process that came out are giving students "ownership" of meaningful activities and working one-to-one with students in mentoring relationships to develop specific spiritual disciplines and servant/leadership skills.

Welcome!

Welcome to our Student Leadership Development Community!
At the 2006 ACSI Student Leadership Conference in Budapest, it became clear that we need to do more in planning, training, and providing opportunities for leadership among our students here in the Christian schools of Europe. This page is a start in that direction. We want to create a network which shares ideas and resources and which challenges us to walk with our students as God gives them a vision for ministry in their own communities.
These are the questions we are working on together:

• Where are our students spiritually?
• What are their current opportunities for ministry?
• How are we walking with them in mentoring relationships?
• How are we challenging them to grow in Christ-like-leadership that will impact their world?

We also want to explore how leadership programs might look in each of our schools using questions like these:

• What is the purpose of our school leadership program?
• What do we want our students to be and to be able to do in and after high school?
• What is the dream or vision that God is giving students for their potential impact for Christ in their communities?