In January, Randy Smith, the president of Youth Ministry International, came to Mexico to teach a week and a half intensive course on youth missions. He came as a favor to me because I was going to be teaching in another part of Latin America for two weeks, and it would have been very difficult to teach three week-long intensives in three weeks.
Today, I had the opportunity to talk with the students at the seminary about the class, and they told me that it was a great class, and that they had a great time, despite the large project that is due at the end of the quarter (they have to plan a mission trip to another country, including all the details).
I could really sense that there is now a bond among the youth ministry students, and they have a great attitude right now. I can’t really explain what I sensed as I spoke with each of them this afternoon. It was great to see them again, and I look forward to spending more time with them and talking about what they are learning and doing.
Ah, leadership. Leaders. Liderazgo. It’s a great subject. But what are some qualities of effective leaders in youth missions? Let me give you one.
The first quality of leadership that I believe is essential to effective Youth Missions Leadership is to learn as much as you can about the context and culture. Rosabeth Moss Kantor siad, “Leaders are more powerful role models when they learn than when they teach.” It’s true. You can lead people much farther if you strive first to understand them.
You cannot lead if you do not understand the culture and context of those with whom you are working. The first thing you must do as a leader anywhere, but especially in missions, is try to understand the situation. If you cannot spend time observing the culture and the people, you will find it difficult to lead them.
The fact that you have a position of leadership does not mean that you are a leader. You may arrive to a situation with the title of leader, but that does not mean they will see you as a leader. Sure, in many cultures, they will hold you up on a pedestal simply because of your title. But to win the respect of the people you wish to lead, you must first try to understand them.
Before I went to Mexico, I did as much as I could to try to understand the culture and context. I read books about culture and history, talked to people, and tried my best to understand the context of youth ministry in Mexico. There is still a lot I don’t understand about Mexican culture, but I feel that this time of learning (that continues today) has helped me in the ministry.
So, here are some tips for learning the context and culture:
- Read all you can about the culture.
- The first few months (first year if you can), don’t do ministry. Just observe. That doesn’t mean you aren’t ministering. You just aren’t participating in a formal ministry.
- Ask lots of questions about the culture (family, history, language, way of doing things, relationships).
- Spend real time with real people. Watch how they interact with each other.
- Write down your observations.
This is part of a series on leadership for Youth Emphasis Week at Southern Seminary.
I’ll be speaking multiple times in Louisville next week for Youth Emphasis Week at the International Center for Youth Ministry. Although the schedule looks overwhelming and grueling, I’m looking forward to speaking about what’s happening in Latin America and youth ministry. It will be a great change of pace to speak in English.
The topics I have been given to speak on in classes are:
- Strategies That Work in the US & Internationally
- Am I Called to Youth Missions?
- Cross-Cultural Missions: Partnering with National Entities
- Youth Culture in Cuba
- Programming in Mexico
- Leadership for Effective Youth Missions
- The Family Life of Mexican Young People
- A Non-American’s Perspective of Americans
I’m hoping to post here the notes for these sessions so you can read them and respond as well. I’m looking forward to interact with the few who read this blog on these topics.
(Image by sixs†eps on flickr)
I’m back in Mexico for a few days. Let me tell you, it’s really great to finally be home after so many weeks of being away. Of course, I don’t have much time to enjoy it because I’ve been invited to go to Kentucky to share at Youth Emphasis Week at Boyce College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
I leave on Saturday and will return 10 days later, on Monday. Then we will be able to get back into a routine and get prepared for next quarter’s seminary classes as well as all the other plans we have for this year. The good news is that Janell will be joining me in Kentucky for a few days (she’s in Florida right now). I’m looking forward to having her there with me.
(thumbnail by: Carribb on flickr)
For the last few years, I’ve been traveling to Cuba twice a year to train those who are training youth workers. I’m there again today.
I’ll be in Cuba for the next two weeks, and I was thinking about my time there. I’ll be teaching two youth ministry classes, but I was hoping that it will be more than just that. I believe that I have this job so that I can impact people and minister to them, not just teach them stuff.
Here are the things I want to accomplish while I’m there this time:
- I want it to be a time of spiritual refreshment for the students and myself, not just an academic exercise.
- I want it to be as participatory as possible, not just a lecture styled class.
- I want them to leave with practical tools for their ministries.
- I want them to leave fired up about what they can do in global youth ministry training.
Here are some pictures of a Three Kings Day party the CYM in Mexico City had this year with Randy Smith, president of Youth Ministry International. He’s in town to teach a missions class, and the students decided to teach him something about Mexican culture.
Click the thumbnail to see a larger version of the picture.
