Leader Quest Part 2:

During Leader Quest, the coach talked about Nehemiah who was first a servant and then a leader. Coach challenged the kids’ understanding of leadership. Leadership is not so much a position or title but rather an attitude that reflects respect, responsibility and discipline within themselves. Coach challenged the kids to think about ways that each of them could “serve” their family members.

Coach left the kids with five ideas that would change their lives:
1. Don’t think too highly of yourself or your importance
2. Don’t disrespect your parents
3. To be on time, is to be late
4. Give away your money freely
5. Dream and set goals. Each day pray, “Lord, want do you want from me today?”

I believe that each person who attended Leader Quest learned and experienced what they needed as the Holy Spirit tailors His work individually to our specific needs. Now as our kids move further into their leadership/faith journey, let us prayer together. . .“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1.6

Leader Quest - 5/6th grade Leadership Adventure

Bethany Timmons and I brought 9 kids – 2 girls and 7 boys to the Idea Factory in Troy, Ohio for 3 days of leadership development last week. Leader Quest is a 3-day of adventure, hands on learning experience where kids study hard, work hard, play hard and sleep hard. My friend Mike Nygren has done over 450 of these types of trainings and is brilliant. Everything he does looks nonchalant yet is very intentional.

For example, he took us all out to the local diner, divided the kids up into small groups of 3 with a team leader and observed how well they behaved in a public setting. There were some mixed results! He observed to see who would step up to clean up after a meal and who goes off to play. Mike knows that kids can do awesome things and make a difference in their homes and community.


It’s impossible to describe the process of “de-jerking.” I don’t say that disrespectfully. We all have the potential to be jerks at various times and we are. It is amazing to watch the kids step up and into the expectations that Mike laid out.


If you go to a basketball camp don’t you expect the coach to invest in you and help you become a better ball player? He’s going to build a team to win and he’s going to work you hard to get the best from you. That’s how Mike approaches leadership. You can trust him to tell you the truth – both positive and negative. He’ll tell you when you are missing the mark but he is quick to praise and encourage, so you can grow as a leader.

Leadership

Leadership is an attitude.

It's the way you handle yourself and treat others

showing respect,

responsibility

and discipline.

Leader Quest - 5/6th grade Leadership Adventure

The Leader Quest applications and letters are coming in and they are awesome! Here's what 5th and 6th graders are saying about becoming a leader.

Why I want to be a leader?
. . . "Change doesn't come by you believing in them. You have to take them on their own journey but not take it for them." age 12
. . ."I don't want to just navigate and stumble through my junior & senior high years; I want to be a leader." age 11
. . ."leaders need to think before they act, try to always choose what is right instead of wrong, while all the wh ile relying on God for His help and strength." age 11

I am so excited to be able to share the leadership experience with your kids. I have no doubt that awesome things are going to happen while we together in Ohio on June 18-20 and afterwards when they return to Michigan.