How far do you think either team would have gone this season if they had hired 11 backup quarterbacks? Too many times I see youth ministry teams that are unbalanced. The strength of any team is in its diversity of players.
Often as leaders we end up attracting other leaders who are just like us. If we are not careful, our youth staff ends up being a bunch of clones. Then we are lopsided and limit the type and style of teenagers we will attract.
Years ago I was at a church whose youth pastor was an athlete and by stereo types he fit the role of an adult "jock." All of his leadership team looked like ex football players, cheerleaders and preps.
There didn't seem to be a "geek" on the team. Then it hit me as I looked around the youth group...there were several hundred teenage jocks, preps, and cheerleaders in the room. There wasn't an ugly person there!
No, I'm not saying go out and find ugly people to be on your team. However, my goal as a youth pastor was to get all shapes, sizes, kinds, ages and colors of youth leaders.
One of the favorite youth leaders we had in Tulsa at Rhema Bible Church was an energetic elderly man named Bob. He was our resident 80-year-old "grandfather" youth leader.
At camp you could find Bob playing a game of checkers with kids or sitting around with a group telling stories . He went on a ski trip once and then at age 81 he won the belly flop contest off the high dive at summer camp! No, I'm not kidding!
It seems that many leaders always try and recruit college students. They can be good help, but I typically had the most problems with this age group due to their close proximity of age to the students.
Ministry is a heart to heart exchange and I never wanted there to be any misinterpretations; therefore, both leaders and students knew there was absolutely no dating or flirting between one another.
Make sure and involve adult leaders from a variety of racial backgrounds. We live in a multi-racial society with students of every nationality, race and mix. You will not effectively reach them if you are unbalanced in your leadership.
Be sure and "draft" young singles, older singles, young married couples, parents of teenagers, and the "over the hill gang." Include leaders who will never head up your sports program but can make your head spin with their computer skills.
For every type of teenager you see within the schools you draw from, you should find adult leaders to match.
Always have an application process. Never allow anyone to work with children or youth who has not been thoroughly screened. Call their references and run their name by the pastoral staff. They might have already worked in another department within the church and have been asked to leave.
I also highly recommend doing a police background check. This will run $10-20 per person but it is well worth the cost if it stops a child molester from working with your kids.
Never be intimidated by the gifts or talents of others on your team. Some leaders shy away from those who may seem more talented or gifted than themselves. It doesn't make sense in sports and it doesn't make sense in ministry.
My goal as a leader is to consistently add people to my team that are better than me. It will do one of two things--make you feel inferior and threatened or make you feel stronger and proud. A good coach recognizes the better his team is, the better chance he has of winning!
It is essential that you delegate and hand off responsibilities to your volunteer staff. There is nothing more frustrating than volunteering to serve and not be given responsibilities.
Be careful not to dump, but delegate. Give them instructions, insights, and vision for the task at hand. Now go lead your team to victory!
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