Leading a movement
delegating to develop future leaders
by John Mitchell

As the semester progresses you can expect to face the following many challenges including these two: 1) involving new people and 2) keeping up with all of your many responsibilities. This is where delegation can work for you in multiple ways, it connects others to the ministry, helps students take steps of faith, helps them learn new ministry skills and can even help free you up!

In Exodus 18:13-26, Moses is overwhelmed with caring for the many thousands of Israelites. In verse 14 when his father-in-law Jethro sees that he will burn himself out, and cannot serve the people well, Jethro says "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?" and in verse 21 "But select capable men from all the people-men who fear God, trustworthy... and appoint them..."

Delegation is less about getting stuff off your to do list, than it is about increasing other's commitment and vision for serving the Lord and serving the ministry. The more contributing leaders you have, the more that will happen!

Here are some thoughts and questions to keep in mind as you think about developing new leaders:

• Who are some students that seem faithful, available and teachable? Students who come often, contribute in a positive way and seem eager to help. (Look at 2 Tim. 2:2)
  
• Are these students walking with the Lord? (before giving someone significant leadership - you want to be very confident of their position in Christ and their walk with Him. It is much harder to uninvite someone from a position of leadership later on!)
  
• New students can contribute in significant ways even if they lack a great deal of experience and scriptural knowledge as long as they are teachable and walking with God. (In Matthew 10:6 Jesus sends out the 12 "to the lost sheep of Israel" at what seems to be just a short time after they began following him)
  
• What are some low risk projects that we could ask others to be involved in? (hanging up posters, coming early to help set up the room, bring snacks, do an icebreaker, work at a table or booth)
  
• How would the ministry be blessed by more people being involved in serving?
  
• What are some areas of strength/giftedness that these students seem to have?
  
• What can I do this week to involve others?

Every spring - something quite significant happens. Lots of current leaders graduate! By involving students in ministry now - you'll be smoothing the way for new leaders to be raised up before late April.

Try challenging some students to some specific activities now, as they succeed, ask them to do more and begin to involve them in the greater vision of the ministry. As they contribute to the ministry, their ownership and commitment to the mission on campus usually increases.