16 Things Churches Must Do To Train Young Leaders

16 Things Churches Must Do To Train Young Leaders

 

Reaching the next generation and continually raising up a new crop of Christian leaders are critical elements in establishing and maintaing a sustainable ministry module.  You must always be green and growing as a church.  Otherwise, everyone will simultaneously get old and the church will begin a long journey towards death.
I just finished reading an article in the February 24th edition of Sports Illustrated entitled, “The Education of Jabari Parker.”  This masterpiece written by Jeff Benedict chronicles Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s coaching of his latest prodigy and the likely top pick in next June’s NBA Draft.  It provides a fascinating look into training young talent which pastors and church leaders can learn from.
The following are 16 Things Churches Must Do To Train Young Leaders which we learn from the relationship between Coach K and Parker:

1. Cast BIG Vision For Young Leaders – During his recruitment of Parker, Coach K shared his goals for Parker – “National player of the year.  A national championship.  First pick in the NBA draft.”
2. Allow Young Leaders To Create Their Own Positions – Coach K told Parker, “The great ones – Durant, LeBron, Kobe, Carmelo – don’t have positions.  You’re a great player.  And at Duke you will be a player without a position.”
3. Do Not Limit What Young Leaders Can Do – Too often we attempt to force young leaders into our organizational structure.  This is a mistake.  Coach K added, “If you put a plant in a pot, it might take the shape of the pot.  But if you put a great plant in great soil and let it go, some crazy good things can happen.”
4. Play To The Strengths Of Young Leaders – Upon arriving at Duke, Krzyzewski told Parker, “We have to get rid of who you are right now.  Let’s build on who you were.  You were the best young basketball player in the world before the injury.”
5. Young Leaders Must Be Challenged – Krzyewski went on, “You have to be in condition.  I’ll push you with my staff because everybody needs to be pushed.”
6. Leverage The Passion Of Young Leaders – Don’t throw cold water on the hot passion young leaders have.  Coach K told Parker, “You’ve developed some edges in order to be who you are…Just make sure you are still that city kid.  We don’t want to smooth those edges out.  We want you to have them and remember them.”
7. Work On A Young Leader’s Character As Much Or More Than Their Skills – Parker has exemplary character and intelligence.  In addition to carrying a 3.7 GPA at Simeon High School, Coach K says, “He doesn’t have demons.  He doesn’t drink or party or have a problem with authority.  Those things rob you of your love of preparation for the game.”  If you neglect this practice, the talent of young leaders will take them to a place where their character cannot sustain them.
8. Train Young Leaders To Focus On Fundamentals – A mistake many young leaders make is thinking they can get by on talent alone.  Listen to what Coach K said in a coaching session with Parker – “Look at your feet.  They are in the wrong position…Look at your hands.  They are not ready.”  He also addressed his hips being turned in the wrong direction.
9. Train Young Leaders To Develop Good Habits – Regarding his coaching of feet, hands and hips, Coach K said, “This is about precision and doing physical things to create better habits.  It’s what the guys I coach in the summer do.  Kobe and LeBron and Durant are precise.”
10. Be Brutally Honest With Young Leaders – Krzyewski’s coaching is “not personal.  It’s the truth.”
11. Train Young Leaders To Focus On Others – Dozens of scouts and celebrities attended the team’s December 19th game against UCLA at Madison Square Garden in order to watch Parker play.  It was an event.  Parker took it all in stride saying, “I don’t care about scouts.  I’m focused on our team and what we want to accomplish.”
12. Be Honest About Your Own Failures With Young Leaders – On December 26th, Coach Krzyewski received news that his brother William had passed away.  Understandably, this made coaching very difficult for the next few weeks.  Coach K said, “Overall this will be a great experience for them because they see someone who in their minds is very powerful and who can’t be penetrated.  And they see me being penetrated to where I’m moved to tears.”
13. Coach Up Young Leaders When They Fail – All young leaders will experience failure.  Parker went through a several game stretch where he played in a sub-par fashion.  Coach K told Parker, “I’m a little bit angry with you because while I have you, I want you to become as good as you can be.  And I don’t think you’re giving me all that you can give me.”
14. Young Leaders Face Self-Imposed Pressure.  Relieve It. – Coach K advised Parker, “I think you love it here so much that you want to be good, but not too good, so you won’t be in the discussion (as the top pick in the draft).  You’ll be in the discussion anyway because the NBA draft is on potential.”
15. Train Young Leaders To Leave Your Church –  Krzyewski acknowledged, “I recruited him knowing that we would lose him.  But I want him to have the foundation when he leaves.  He is now at the level where he can go to another level.”
16. Train Young Leaders To Respect Those In Authority – To effectively be in authority you must first learn to be under authority.  Parker said, “Coach K and I have a great friendship.  We have a father-son relationship.  I love the man.  And I’ve put my complete trust in him.”