Inspiring young people to lead, today

Every young person has the potential to lead and influence those around them, so the Diocese of Gloucester’s Youth Connect Team is launching a programme to encourage inspiring leadership in young people.

Youth ministers, church leaders and youth group volunteers will be spotting people with potential or talent in leadership and will encourage them to sign up to a new leadership course this autumn.

Barrie Voyce, Senior Youth Connector, said, “Often, when we talk about developing leaders in church contexts, we’re thinking about ordination, or Readers, or even children and youth workers. But most of the youth in our churches aren’t going to end up in one of those roles.”

The Connect Young Leaders Programme is based on a quote from John Maxwell.

“Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flow charts. It is about one life influencing another.”

“At Youth Connect, we believe that God calls each of us to be a leader – to influence those around us for the Kingdom and to partner with God in bringing life in all its fullness. We want to inspire young people to be influencers right now – in their schools, social groups, online, in their families, as well as their church.”

The Connect Young Leaders Programme is facilitated by our Youth Connectors, and runs for 12 weeks in locations around the Diocese of Gloucester. Typically, sessions will be two hours one evening per week with young leaders from across your area. Topics will include:

• Foundations of leadership
• Effective communication
• Influence and impact
• Where does God fit in?

“We know that in most of our churches, the youth groups are quite small,” explains Barrie, “or there might be one or two youth associated with the church. The Connect Programme will enable those one or two to gather with others from local churches to learn and grow. We’re asking church leaders and youth ministers to recommend the Connect Programme to those young people who they see potential in.”

More information and an expression of interest form can be found here, or to get some invitations you can personally give to young people, contact Barrie or your local youth connector.