Youth Leadership 2012 Retreat

The year 2011 brought ups and downs in Capricorn Community Church that were unexpected, and God’s plans have prevailed despite our expectations. One of my goals in being in South Africa and specifically with church-planting is to raise up leaders that are confident, trustworthy and passionate disciples of Christ (Exodus 18:17- 23). So as 2011 began and the youth leader and leadership committee (made up of a variety of young-adults) fell apart due to many lifestyle changes, I found myself confused and with only one other standing member from 2010, Meagan. We met with Pastor Severo at nauseam and saw that God definitely wiped our slates clean and provided His team for the year. Due to our small crew and my goal for raising up leaders amongst our own church members out of Capricorn, we prayed and prayed about having a Youth Leadership Committee made up of the very youth that we were ministering to. We asked about 8 youth to pray about committing to this leadership position for the year; 6 returned to us and said they’d like to serve their peers and be an active part of leading the Youth.

This committee met regularly to plan for Youth events, they were called upon to help with administrative duties, they were the voices of our church youth, they were held at a higher standard, and for the most part, they succeeded! We began small, tested the waters with how much responsibility they could handle, and God has built His church with His very own commands (Matt 16:18).

With 2012 staring at us, we began the process of electing another Youth Committee. One night at Friday Youth, we allowed the youth group to nominate 2 people who they’d like to lead the Youth for 2012. There were a few additions and even subtractions from the nominations – and thus, we approached the nominated ones, asked them to pray about the responsibility, and with their acceptance, we began pouring into them and planning for 2012. This small group came to my house for the weekend. We had sessions on evaluation and leadership and planning. This group of young people are ready to be used by God and I’m praying they learn and grow as they lead.