North Clinton Mennonite church
Has “youth elders” who are nominated by adult volunteer staff, interviewed by the youth pastor, and then affirmed/voted on by the rest of the youth group. A youth elder is held to personal living standards, as well as attendance requirements. Their primary role is shepherding, providing pastoral care, 5-7 assigned students from the youth ministry. They also provide organizational/administrative input & leadership to the programming aspect of the youth ministry. Programatic/One-anothering in focus.
Huntington North Student leadership
Seeks “Christian Students who are committed to influencing their friends for Christ through YFC-related ministries.” Students are asked to “Go alone together to reach your lost friends at Huntington North Highschool.” Students are expected to attend weekly, morning meetings, use outreach programs as tools for outreach, and to take risks in conversations about Jesus, while living a “certain-kind” of lifestyle. Outreach/missional in focus.
Archbold Evangelical
Has not developed a clear program or definition for student leadership, but use the adult volunteer staff to identify & informally appoint students who have a “vital relationship with Jesus” who are willing to commit to serving & sharing regularly as a result of that relationship. If these students continue to function and show maturity in this serving & sharing tasks they remain identified & used within the context of the ministry. I don’t know how to group this one, probably “students in charge” in function, although student leaders in relationship “on paper”.
Nappanee First Brethren
Student leaders form a “Youth Council”. Adult volunteer staff appoint students to the ballot, after interested students have filled out an application, who are then voted on by students present at the youth group. Each student on the council is given one of the “5 purposes of youth ministry” (Warren/Fields) and are to be the “eyes, ears, hands & feet” of the youth pastor for their particular focus. Students are expected to live out their commitment to Christ in word & deed, as well as be involved in every aspect of the youth ministry, local, district & national. “Student Leaders in charge” function.
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My personal summary of a definition for student leadership recognizes a Biblical responsibility to be missional in focus, while recognizing the local church’s mandate to function as the body in carrying out the “ministry & message of reconciliation”. I am trying to develop a highly intentional, streamlined form of student leadership with as little programming as possible to develop the youth ministry and students. Here at Crossroads, “student leaders” are called captains and are seen/trained/referred to as “ambassadors of Christ”. Becoming a captain is open to any student who chooses to invest in the youth ministry’s purpose (helping searching students discover & develop an intimate relationship with Jesus). They do this by 1) by identifying his/her role of service (within the youth ministry) and 2) by identifying his/her area of influence (among their peers out in their world), while maintaining a commitment to 1) grow in maturity (measured by initiative and responsibility in both the “inward” & “outward” tasks) and 2) faithfulness (measured by obedience & lifestyle) to Jesus. Members of the adult staff work with students who are grouped according to the “roles of service” they have chosen in providing accountability to their
commitment & role of ambassadors among their area of influence. I’m
trying to incorporate a combo of “missional” & “local church ministry” (as a tool for the missional).
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