The Pentagon ordered new trucks. Base price: $437,000. Comfortably equipped (weapons, stealth paint, etc.): $1 million. Not long ago, the government shipped 5,000 of these to make a difference in another country. Simple math puts that at $5 billion. Let’s say you had $5 billion to spend on making a difference in another country. How would […]
Category: Influence & leadership
It’s good when leaders lead differently
A while back two group leaders approached our youth pastor with questions. The first asked, “Is it permissible to take our group to a musical that one of our students is in? If so, how should we handle transportation?” The second said, “Our group is talking about a trip to Guatemala to work at an […]
Dread
There’s a guy who used to spend hours every week investing in students. Coaching, teaching, leading discussions, hosting events — he and his wife were regulars. Then his life hit speed bumps. They slowed him down and his involvement faded. First he avoided eye contact, then he dropped out. Can you fill in teaching next […]
Are you qualified to work with students?
As a student, the last guy I expected to see in my youth group was Mr. Jenkins. He wasn’t the type. Pushing sixty, hard of hearing, and always in a suit. So imagine my surprise when he barged into our group one night and loudly introduced us to his “buddy,” a long-haired kid named Tom. […]
Cookies on the Bottom Shelf?
I heard about two student events this week, one organized by students, the other by staff. Which do you think generated the most energy — and will be remembered long afterwards? — Come to a movie night at the church! Snacks provided! — Join us for a 12-hour drive to Washington DC to spend 24 […]
