Pastors, worship leaders, Sunday school teachers, and caring deacons don’t simply walk through the doors of our churches polished and ready to lead. And they don’t hide in the pews until we tap them so they can spring into action.

Servant leaders in our churches aren’t born. They are made – slowly, with attention and care. This logic is obvious when applied to other disciplines. One doesn’t suddenly wake up playing the guitar with a dozen songs at the ready.

However, in our consumer culture, we can easily fall into the trap of failing our children simply by providing for them, instead of inviting from them the teaching, serving, singing, and preaching needed. Are there weekly opportunities for practicing and prompting the future leaders of our churches? Here are a few thoughts to spur your own ideas, specific to your context:

1. Bring back Assembly Time!
Many of our education spaces were designed with one big meeting room, surrounded by several smaller rooms. Use that space as intended! Elect officers or invite students in youth group to lead a brief Sunday morning (or Wednesday evening) assembly time – including singing, reading scripture and prayers of the people. Practicing here will prepare them to do the same in Big Church.

2. Invite youth to plan your next retreat or event.
Help your students think through the details of promotion, schedule, expense, purpose and goals of the event. Let them design the T-shirt! Give everyone assignments and help them follow through on their part. Your young leaders will gain perspective on your bigger picture, and gain experience in managing the details of a church event, and so will their parents.

3. Cross-Pollinate!
Once a month let the youth lead a special time with the children’s ministry. Encourage them to plan this time, practice their part, and work with the children’s minister to make sure the words and songs are appropriate for children and fit the theme. This framework also works with an occasional adult time as well – Sunday or Wednesday.

4. Make young people regulars in Big Church.
Don’t save it all up for Youth Sunday! Our children and youth need to lead regularly in worship – getting up on that stage frequently will allow them to get comfortable as worship leaders. They can read scripture, lead the responsive reading, say prayers, dance a processional, and more. If she plays tuba at school, find a way to let her offer that gift in worship!

All of this will take effort and will upset a few of our long established systems. It will take full church staff buy-in as well. It is worth all our efforts because young people won’t leave a church that needs them as easily as they will one that doesn’t. Oh, and their college church will thank you for getting them ready to lead. Summer ministries like Passport will love you – because your students will be experienced for leadership at camp or on mission. And the church they attend when they start their career or family will be indebted to you because they will walk into that door ready and expecting to serve.

David Burroughs

David Burroughs is the president & founder of Passport, Inc.