Everybody needs someone who knows their name, and what’s happening in their life.
Show up predictably, mentally and randomly
Come prepared when you serve, give eye contact, send postcards
How you handle conflict, hard questions, and tension give you an opportunity to demonstrate that your group is a safe place.
Lead the group, respect the process, guard the heart
Embrace the tension that kids are at different places, honor confidentiality, seek help when someone is being hurt
If you’re not on the parent’s side, you’re not on the kid’s side.
Cue the parent, honor the parent, reinforce the family
Get to know the parents, give them something to take home with them
The most important person you lead is not your few – it’s you.
Live in community, set priorities, be real
Join a community group, take Sundays off, be honest (and age appropriate) about your life
A child will never feel significant until you give until you give them something significant to do.
Move them to someone else, move them to be the church, move them to what’s next
Allow them to lead and serve your group, prepare them for their next age / grade promotion and a new leader, consider life transitions