Hey y’all,

Here is a little insight from my summer. I recently discovered this blog I had typed out on my iPhone’s notepad. I can’t help but miss #stumin so much. God has, is, and is going to do great things through the lives of students. Let’s train up this next generation so they can let God shine through them.

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As many of you know, I am working for a company called LeaderTreks this summer. I have the opportunity to pour into students’ lives while leading them on excursions through the woods. During these weeklong trips, David and I equip the students with the tools needed to lead; after that, we step back and let the students lead. We follow this method of: teach, model, lead.

Hardest. Thing. Ever.

The idea of creating this vacuum of leadership flows from this fact: students don’t get enough time to lead during their day. I find that this is often due to well-meaning adults, like myself, “rescuing” them from failure. I think most of the time I’m more concerned with the completion of the task rather than the teaching moment or the relationship building moment.

Not only do we create “leadership laboratories” at LeaderTreks, we also directly challenge the students to grow. This week, I met Easton, a rising junior with a natural ability to lead. When I first met Easton, his only concern was to share stories about his great accomplishments and a general immaturity surrounded him. My thoughts toward him were negative, and I assumed he was just wasting his talent to lead.

Unfortunately, most people see Easton the same way I saw him. However, through some unfortunate circumstances on the trail, I had to leave for about two hours and, when I returned, an unexpected transformation had taken place. Easton had developed a sense of maturity and had taken on a more serious leadership role. See, God can quickly turn things that you deem hopeless to something great. (#imstupid) This week, I have continued to challenge Easton to grow. He has led the charge in encouraging others, serving where he can, and setting the tone for Bible study. Let me say this: this is not the same Easton that arrived on Sunday. God has done great things.

I think the conclusion is simple: challenge students and allow room for failure. If Jesus was concerned with efficient ministry, He wouldn’t have chose Peter who denied him, He wouldn’t have chose Paul who murdered Christians, He certainly wouldn’t have chose Zacheus who was a thief and, most certainly, He wouldn’t have chose us to fulfill His work. The fact of the matter is that Christ does choose us, and He cares about our growth. He first taught us how to lead, then He modeled it, and then He ascended into Heaven from where He has challenged us to lead. Let’s continue to follow His model and give students the opportunity to fail us, so we can then teach them.