Written by This past week I didn’t speak at youth group and I’m not speaking this coming week either. Not because I don’t want to or because I’m not available. I’m not speaking because we have sought to empower our leaders by letting them use their gifts to teach our students.
In fact, this last week one of our leaders shared a lesson on dating and it was honestly one of the best I’ve heard shared at a youth group in a very long time. He connected with all of our students, was honest and vulnerable, gracious, and gave some tangible applications and questions for students to think through in small groups and beyond.
If I’m being honest, I had a proud “dad” moment when I listened to him teach. He was fully capable, equipped, and gifted in his teaching and I would be happy to have him teach at any time.
The truth we need to wrestle with is this: releasing the pulpit can be hard for the leader of any ministry. Whether you’re a youth pastor or senior pastor, there’s a piece of us that wants control for a variety of reasons.
It could be because we were hired for this purpose and it’s in our job description. It could be because of some pride or control issues. Or maybe there’s a piece of us that doesn’t trust others who don’t have the education or experience that we do.
But by allowing those aspects to control us, we are missing out on the opportunity to empower our leaders to utilize their gifts and abilities. What we need to do is share the stage with others and encourage them to step into the roles and opportunities God has given them.
For ministry leaders, that means you need to identify, equip, empower, encourage, release, and coach your people. When you see potential in others and you equip, empower, and encourage them they will begin to grow and flourish in their gifting and put their gifts into action. Then you need to release them to fully use their gifts as you continue to walk alongside them and coach them along the way.
Not only does this encourage and empower your team, it also generates buy-in from your leaders as they understand that they are not just a number or warm body and instead are seen as a partner in ministry. This is also beneficial for your students because people will hear the same things differently from different people.
You could teach a lesson and have little engagement. A week later one of your leaders could teach the same lesson and there could be a flood of positive feedback. That isn’t to say your message wasn’t good or beneficial, but your students heard it differently from a different voice and that is a huge asset to your ministry.
Another benefit to empowering others to teach and lead is that it releases that from your shoulders and allows you to engage in different ways. I know when one of our leaders speaks, I’m freed up throughout the program to engage and build relationships without the distractions of thinking about what I’m teaching on. It also affords me more time in the week to plan ahead, meet with people, and work on side projects that need to get done. This is a win-win for both sides.
At the end of the day, having a variety of voices sharing and teaching within your ministry is one of the greatest assets you have at your disposal. The question you need to wrestle with is this: will you release control and empower others to step up and lead beside you?
