– A Young Life Leader
Written by Shirin Ahmadpour
Edited by Maja Cakarun
High school can be a confusing time transitioning from childhood to the phase right before full grown adulthood. We use this time to experiment with the type of person we want to be and the aspects of life we choose to prioritize.
When I was 16, I joined an organization called Young Life. All I knew of this organization was that it was Christian based and that apparently a lot of students had fun doing crazy things at their events. I was never a follower of any religion and definitely didn’t know a thing about Christianity or God for that matter.
Young Life changed everything. Every Monday night I got to sing songs, play games, meet knew people and hear a message about God. But the factor about Young Life that truly made all the difference was having Young Life leaders. These leaders were outgoing, kind, fun, overall good people who knew every kid’s name. These adults knew my name and was interested in everything about me. They talked to me, pursued my friendship, initiated time to spend together and ultimately walked through life with me.
After I graduated high school I immediately became a leader in Downtown Phoenix. I am currently in my third year leading and have been blessed with the opportunity to share my new found faith with kids who may have never had anyone take interest in sharing life’s journey with them.
Every Young Life leader is different, but we all stylize on servant leadership.
Some qualities include being:
Knowledgable
Sacrificial
Initiative
Not afraid to talk about difficult topics
Kind to all
Charismatic
Able to laugh at self
Responsible
Reliable
Above all of these, the one thing it takes to be a Young Life leader is a strong love for The Lord. As a leader, I believe God will equip me with all of the skills I need to serve in this capacity. Being a faith based leader not only means who have to have a good connection with people but you must also live the life you want those you are leading to live.
Shirin,
I am glad you have had such a great experience with Young Life! The best way to grow as a leader is when you are surrounded by a supportive and welcoming community. I like your comment: “Being a faith based leader not only means who have to have a good connection with people but you must also live the life you want those you are leading to live”. This is a great description of leadership by example and I think the greatest leaders are those that hold themselves to the standard they want for all.