leadership

We watched the super bowl last night with a group of twenty some things. Tara and I are not twenty something. We had a blast! These guys and gals are full of fun and full of life. We intentionally invited them to come over because I believe that this generation has the ability to change the world for the cause of Christ.

Here are some lessons they are teaching me....

They are all about relationships. This group wants to know you not about you. If you are going to lead them into anything it must be on the basis of relationships. Their leaders will be up close and personal.

They are not into big but they are into better. This generation has been brought up with great music, video, and other elements. You must use the arts in a wide verity to touch the heart.

They are not scarred of big things but they don’t want to just be a face in the crowd. They want to be a force in the crowd.

They are accepting of people who have different views about morality and beliefs. But they respond to biblical truth when dispensed with love. If you don’t love them don’t bother. The media has set the cultural norms for them but they know there is more. Godly leaders must not judge them for their choices but offer examples of biblical truth from godly lives. They can smell a phony!

They want to know they are a part of something that touches the whole world. This is the first generation that is globally connected. They text, e-mail, face book, my space and so much more to stay connected. They want big dream and challenges and leaders who dare to dream those dreams.

I believe that us older leaders must reach back and lovingly lead this generation. They will not respond to corporate structures or church the way it has always been. They will respond to acceptance and love. At recent conference where I was speaking one of the leaders said "you can't grow a church will college kids". I say "Bull". If led with love, passion, and vision, they can be the hope of the world.

Tara and I had the opportunity to hang out with Margaret Feinberg. She is amazingly gifted speaker and writer. Her latest book is The Organic God. It is a must read. You can check her out at margaretfeinberg.com.