From Brad Thornton: Bremen Missionary Church Youth Pastor & District Youth Director

Leaders Beware! 
You are a LEADER!

Through my years of ministering to students and also being a father of two wonderful sons, I have found that there are very important lessons to be learned that cross over into both worlds. I think I have always known this, but now that my sons are both in my youth ministry, it seems all the more relevant to my daily life.

Hearing you teach a lesson is good. Some students might be able to grasp what you are saying and figure out how to implement that into their lives. Others might just be hearing words, or possibly the sound of Charlie Brown's teacher's voice rattling around in their heads. But, if they see you living the lesson out in your own life, it will help solidify in their minds exactly what you are trying to say. If they hear your challenging words and then see your life not reflecting the things you just taught, there is little hope that they will do anything but reflect what they have SEEN you live out.

Here are a couple of examples:

1. Never pick up that cell phone while you are driving anywhere with your students in a vehicle. If you want to put your own life in danger, that's one thing ...but putting the lives of a bunch of kids in a church van in danger just so you can check the latest tweet is pretty sad. I have been guilty of this and God has used a student to personally convict me. OUCH!!
2. If you want your students to go out and share the Gospel with family, friends, and strangers, then get your butt off the chair and take them out and show them how to do it yourself. Whether you are on a missions trip or simply at lunch in their school, if they see you sharing the love of Christ with others outside the walls of the church, they will understand how to do it. Show them exactly what it is you expect them to do, and more than likely they will do it and probably even exceed your expectations.

I should also be sure to point out one of the more difficult lessons that we all must learn. As the person leading and working with these students, understand that WE ARE NOT PERFECT! I know that might shock some of you, but it is still the truth. I know I screw up at times, and sometimes people catch it and sometimes they don't. I have found one of the most powerful lessons I have ever taught is about honesty in failing and seeking forgiveness. It is a very humbling thing to come clean to your students when you make a mistake. Sometimes you may have to seek forgiveness on a personal level and sometimes you may need to do it publicly to the whole group. But it is in those times that God will shine through and use you once again to model His love and grace for each of them.